Was Abraham a Gentile? (A lesson from Romans 4)

The purpose of going through this passage is to show that Paul is defending a singular point about Abraham’s justification… that it is by faith.

Being made right must be by faith so that is accredited to Abraham from God. For us to understand the nature of God justifying man Paul defines monergistic justification. In other words all that Abraham has been given to become just and right in the eyes of God comes from God.

1. Abraham did not work off his debt of unrighteousness God gave him righteousness.

Romans 4:1-25 What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? 2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. 3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. 4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.

If Abraham would have worked for his justification he would have earned a deserved wage and been able to claim that he had worked for what was credited to his account. Being shown his debt and awful position before God Abraham was not expected to work of the difference but to receive the Grace of God by faith.

2. You and I cannot work off our debt of unrighteousness God gives it to us.

5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. 6 Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, 7 Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. 8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.9 Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness.

Note that in verse 5 Paul is very general in this statement…But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. As a preacher i would identify this as a point of application. Paul has now taken a moment to bring the specific work of God justifying abraham to a universal and timless truth. Paul is saying in short this is also how we are justified. Psalm 32:1-2 is used by Paul to bring up the blessings of such a graciously credited righteousness’s.

3. Abraham was a gentile before he was a Jew and this shows that he is a father of Faith to all who believe not to the Jew only.

10 How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision. 11 And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also: 12 And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised.

Justification by faith is still the topic and main point in Pauls discourse here. What do we as gentiles have in common with Abraham since we where aliens of the commonwealth of Isreal? We are also justified by faith and this is how he is our father (in type). The Jew through incredible arrogance and self righteousness had overlooked the fact that God demands the heart to be circumsized. Justification for the Jew is through faith also, this is where Jesus had Nicodemus scratching his head in inquiry (John 3). The Jew if they had been killed by the law would understand that they are also children of Adam just like Abraham was and Nicodemus along with his whole nation. They had forgotten that the law and the circumcision do not save. Consider the following verses…

Romans 2:28-29 For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: 29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.

Deuteronomy 30:6 And the LORD thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live.

4. Abraham a type of father or picture perfect example of all who are justified by faith.

13 For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. 14 For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect: 15 Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression. 16 Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,

5. God makes alive that which was dead and he brings into existence that which did not previously exist like abrahams seed, justification and faith.

17 (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.18 Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations; according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be. 19 And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara’s womb: 20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; 21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. 22 And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.

Romans 8:29-30 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.

Romans 3:22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:

Obviuously this passage is not only expressing God giving life to His promise that abraham would be the father of a physical seed but also justification and faith. Note verse 17 “who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.” A point is being made here that is generaly describing Gods character in energizing the unenergized this is an important passage not only for justification but faith also. Our faith that pleases God also comes from God. Could abraham being dead in unrighteouss and unjustified be found with a faith that pleases God? God desires to recieve credit in all areas of promise and fullfilment of promise. Be carefull in your walk with Christ that you are not making your faith a work by adding it to the bank along with what God has credited to your account. Your justification is not a corporate effort… only by Grace!

Consider what an anonymous Author has said about faith…

Does faith come from God?

Some inner faith comes from God. It is called “the measure of faith” and every person is given this amount as stated in Romans 12:3 below. Atheists are given this amount as well as the most devout Christian. The measure is an amount whereby every person is without excuse for not believing in God. This God-given faith is the initial starting amount that everyone possessed at one time. A person can go on to develop this faith by studying the Holy Scriptures to build his faith as promised in Scripture, or a person can throw away his initial measure of faith. Pastors and preachers commonly teach a false doctrine that all inner faith comes from God. They teach that a person cannot have his own faith. This false doctrine is not supported by Scripture. The origin appears to be one of the many false doctrines of John Calvin who taught that some people are zapped by God with faith while God withholds faith from others.

Romans 12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think [of himself] more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. (KJV) or “a measure of faith.” (NKJV)

This passage mentioned above is clearly being made to look as if everyman on earth has a measure of faith but the context (found in the same passage) makes very clear that it is everyman among “you” or believers in the church at Rome. Don’t fall into the self-righteous cycle of promoting the extent of your faith has come from the work you do. Instead recognize that that which pleases God only comes from God and that we where dead 100% before we where made alive.

6. The father is well pleased with me because of what He has done with His son.

23 Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; 24 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; 25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.

Isaiah 53:10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.

Matthew 3:17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

Romans 8:32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?

Galatians 3:13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:

1 John 4:9-10 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. 10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

Romans 8:7-8 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

John 12:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.

Dear Lord God as we humbly lay ourselves on the altar bring forth much fruit in our lives so that you might be the all in all in the eyes of a lost and dying world. I pray that the world might know you are our righteousness and you are the only true source of Grace oh God please disableus!

Todays Prayer

 

1 John 3:1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God:..

Father God…

Help me to temper my self view not only with the glorious picture of me as your purchased possession but as the great enemy of your divine will.

Help me father God obtain the temperance needed to see what can become of my life if I dwell on the desires of my heart apart from yours.

Teach me my greatest weaknesses so I can in turn cling to you for strength.

Father my inward desire is off center.

I have place to highly in my heart reasonings that are soulish and self edifying.

Please continue to tether my eyes to the same cross on which Jesus died.

Please allow my pleasure to have a place of congruency alongside Your will and within Your heart.

I thank you father that it pleased you to bruise Him.

I thank you Lord Jesus that you ever liveth to make intercession for me.

I thank you Spirit that you intercede on my behalf in prayer and provide me with divine unction and all the knowledge of Him who died for me.

May my life as your Son and even the very steps I take today be an offering of the similar selfless obedience you revealed to me at the cross… Amen

The faithful witness of a true companion in Christ!

Talking with a friend today… I poured out my heart and he sent me the lyrics to this song. I want to thank God for good friends in Christ who through wisdom and prayer lead us to the very razor edge of the living word!

Proverbs 27:6   Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.

Psalms 119:63   I am a companion of all them that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts.

I Asked the Lord
©2004 double v music (ASCAP). Words: John Newton (alt. Laura Taylor). Music: Laura Taylor.

1. I asked the Lord that I might grow
In faith and love and every grace
Might more of His salvation know
And seek more earnestly His face
2. Twas He who taught me thus to pray
And He I trust has answered prayer
But it has been in such a way
As almost drove me to despair
3. I hoped that in some favored hour
At once He’d answer my request
And by His love’s constraining power
Subdue my sins and give me rest
4. Instead of this He made me feel
The hidden evils of my heart
And let the angry powers of Hell
Assault my soul in every part
5. Yea more with His own hand He seemed
Intent to aggravate my woe
Crossed all the fair designs I schemed,
Cast out my feelings, laid me low
6. Lord why is this, I trembling cried
Wilt Thou pursue thy worm to death?
“Tis in this way” The Lord replied
“I answer prayer for grace and faith”
7. “These inward trials I employ
From self and pride to set thee free
And break thy schemes of earthly joy
That thou mayest seek thy all in me,
That thou mayest seek thy all in me.”

God… What happened to my quiet time!?

Ephesians 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

Don’t take this personal but you are probably what happened to your quiet time.

One of my favorite things to do is fish for Ling-Cod a nasty looking fish that is peculiar not only in looks but it’s name, though it bears the name cod, a cod it is not. This fish when hooked is fun to reel in because it is a bottom fish and the bottom is where it likes to stay! While you reel one in it dives to the bottom giving you about the same above water action as you would pulling a 1975 Buick Electra two hundred and fifty feet from the ocean floor. After taking the time to pull one in you will find the ugliest fish you will probably ever see (also similar to the 75 Buick Electra). The mouth of the fish is similar in size to the lead singer of Aerosmith while the rest of its body resembles a boa-constrictor. It’s an ugly, but tasty, monster!

When you take your flesh into your quiet time it does not enjoy pulling up ugly stuff from the deep parts your heart. Time in the word will seem as shallow and uneventful as guppy fishing if you are the one wielding the sword!

Allow the sword to be in the Spirits hands however and you will get a different result.

Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Think about the incredible power of the Word of God. When in control of you the Spirit uses the word to dive deep. The Spirit and the word together have the power to discern and drudge up the murky monsters from deep within your soul.

Now go fish… then go tell a friend your fishing story!

Making your faith common.

Philemon 1:6 That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.

Our faith needs to be made common not only by our mouths but our actions. Calvin said “For although faith has its proper seat in the heart, yet it communicates itself to men by good works.” We need to be authentic and devoted in times of solitude in order to be genuine and truly common with our faiths communication among those who are without. Our communication in the Name of Christ is only powerful or effectual for Him when those to whom we communicating see Him in us and not the handiwork of idolatry.

May Gods effectual power rest on us when we consider His greatness and act in our weakness. How many times do we do a work for Christ and try to steal some of the praise. How many times do we create mechanisms and traps hidden within our “good works” ensuring that others will stumble upon our goodness and beauty when it is Him alone who deserves praise. Jesus in all His majesty and Glory had an earthly ministry of glorifying the Father. Is your ministry the same as our Lords? Are all your works like pointers toward the master? May the Power of God rest on your ministry for Him today.

In Him

Able

Singing about theology.

Ephesians 5:19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;

Psalms 150:1 Praise ye the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power.
Psalms 150:2 Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness.
Psalms 150:3 Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp.
Psalms 150:4 Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs.
Psalms 150:5 Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals.
Psalms 150:6 Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD.

I am excited that the Body of Christ is beginning to value depth and cogency in music again. Music that expresses our earthly and brotherly love for Christ is Cainish in its offering. I understand personal songs can be personal expressions of How God is dealing with us and I have no problems with that unless we begin to bring them into worship as a corporate and church sense, this is not where our person should be expressed but His Person.

A musical perspective has to change when the doctrines of sovereignty have taken their appropriate place again from our pulpits. We are no longer expressing ourselves to God (as if we have something good to offer Him) instead we are built up and encouraged by what He is delivering to us. We are longer singing about our faithfulness but His. I am encouraged that many churches are beginning to value singing about Theology not just preaching it. I found this by Martin Luther and it made me laugh…

Foreword to Georg Rhau’s Collection, “Symphoniae iucundae”.

“I, Doctor Martin Luther, wish all lovers of the unshackled art of music grace and peace from God the Father and from our Lord Jesus Christ!

I truly desire that all Christians would love and regard as worthy the lovely gift of music, which is a precious, worthy, and costly treasure given to mankind by God.

The riches of music are so excellent and so precious that words fail me whenever I attempt to discuss and describe them…. In summa, next to the Word of God, the noble art of music is the greatest treasure in the world. It controls our thoughts, minds, hearts, and spirits…

Our dear fathers and prophets did not desire without reason that music be always used in the churches. Hence, we have so many songs and psalms.

This precious gift has been given to man alone that he might thereby remind himself that God has created man for the express purpose of praising and extolling God.

However, when man’s natural musical ability is whetted and polished to the extent that it becomes an art, then do we note with great surprise the great and perfect wisdom of God in music, which is, after all, His product and His gift; we marvel when we hear music in which one voice sings a simple melody, while three, four, or five other voices play and trip lustily around the voice that sings its simple melody and adorn this simple melody wonderfully with artistic musical effects, thus reminding us of a heavenly dance, where all meet in a spirit of friendliness, caress and embrace.

A person who gives this some thought and yet does not regard music as a marvelous creation of God, must be a clodhopper indeed and does not deserve to be called a human being; he should be permitted to hear nothing but the braying of asses and the grunting of hogs.”

- Martin Luther

Georg Rhau. 1488 - 1548

Just some morning thoughts

Able

The meaning of Gethsemane…

“Oil-press,” the meaning of Gethsemane, is in direct correlation to the agony our Lord went through in the garden. The olives would be picked from the tree in that garden and be drained of their oil by several different means. The final stage of getting the vital oil from the olive was to crush it with a very heavy stone until all that the olive had to offer wash pressed from it leaving only a shell.

Luke 22:44 And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

This reminds me that our Savior poured out His own precious life blood during the agony in the garden. Crushed under the weight of incredible sorrow and obedience he had only to look a stones throw away to find those who should have been looking, watching and praying … asleep.

Lets not fall asleep, come alive and awaken to see all that God desires to show you.

I wrote this song many years ago while in high school I was so touched by the meaning of Gethsemane that the Lord brought a song to my heart. I put some pictures to it here at home today. I hope it is a reminder of our Saviors Love for the father… and for you.

In Him

Able

Judge not!

Matthew 7:1 Judge not, that ye be not judged.

This verse reference was left behind for me (I’m assuming) on an anonymous communication card after church last Sunday with the words communication boldly underlined with a pen. So i decided to express some thoughts concerning the verse.

It is an often misunderstood and misquoted admonishment by our Lord Jesus that is so often used when Satan is at work in a believers heart concerning unconfessed or unregarded Sin in their life. Accusations with anonymity are never Christlike. I have seen this verse used in crowds and in anonymity but very rarely is it correctly used personally with two or three witnesses.

Pastors can come across judgmental when the flesh is at work in a believers life because the enemy never wants you to take ownership and he never wants you to have victory so he makes other people the problem. The church at Corinth had in some respects this same problem. They wanted to rid themselves of the annoying messenger (Paul) because they did not like His message.

Here is Paul’s response to some of the childish believers at Corinth… 1 Corinthians 11:31 For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.

Most people don’t know this but Pastors go through an intense and often tiring battle before the messages they preach because they first preach to themselves before they ever go to the pulpit. During the week a Pastor prepares himself before God long before he ever opens His mouth on Sunday. None the less God calls imperfect men to preach His perfect word and gives them the ability to deal with those who seem angry with the messenger and not the source of the message.

I find the week leading up to Sunday an intense spiritual battle for me as God refines my ugliness and dross. I usually find a hundred faults in myself before i find one in another. On Sunday morning… remember true pastors are ALWAYS the first ones to hear the message.

This week prepare yourself in prayer before Sunday morning by asking God to reveal sin and refine your life before his almighty seat of Judgment. You will probably see your Pastor in a different light if you will come prepared for Sunday morning.

This Old Hymn by John Berridge, 1716-1793 really Helps me prepare.

Jesus, I long for thee,
And sigh for Canaan’s shore,
Thy lovely face to see,
And all my warfare o’er;
Here billows break upon my breast
And brooding sorrows steal my rest.
I pant, I groan, I grieve
For my untoward heart;
How full of doubts I live,
Though full of grace thou art!
What poor returns, I make to thee
For all the mercy shown to me!
And must I ever smart,
A child of sorrows here?
Yet, Lord be near my heart,
To soothe each rising tear;
Then at thy bleeding cross I’ll stay,
And sweetly weep my life away.

May God Bless You as You Grow In Him

Able

Taxes done! Come Lord Jesus!

Taxes seem to melt me, drain me and render me about as unintelligible and useless as a melted lump of neapolitan Ice cream. My once happy, tasty and neatly presented attitude dwindles down to a rather bleak and tasteless mix of my former self. Humdrum inspired morbid curiosities such as cliff jumping with out a parachute and cobra wrestling seem to fill my mind.

The one hope that pulls me out of my troublesome tax induced trance are wonderful thoughts of a day when I will be with Christ in His free government.

A day when all of God’s children will cower before the tax man no more…that will be magnificent!

I cant wait for a government that gets it right every time because there is no wrong. The Joy of an eternity with Christ and His future will FAR surpass the feeling that comes over me when I go from red to green on the Turbo Tax!

Come Lord Jesus! Take me home to that place where I am no longer reminded that I am paying for abortions, abominations and Obamas!

Just some thoughts needing to be flushed ten minutes after filing!

Able

Driscoll on the difference between Emerging and Emergent church.