Righteousness Through Faith
Romans 4:1–3 (NLT)
1 Abraham was, humanly speaking, the founder of our Jewish nation. What did he discover about being made right with God? 2 If his good deeds had made him acceptable to God, he would have had something to boast about. But that was not God’s way. 3 For the Scriptures tell us, “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.”
Message
See verse 1a.
1a Abraham was, humanly speaking, the founder of our Jewish nation.
Abraham’s original name was Abram. God commanded him to leave his native country, his relatives, and his father’s family, and go to the land He would show him (Genesis 12:1). God promised to make him into a great nation (Genesis 12:2a), which is now called Israel. Therefore, Abraham is the forefather and founder of the nation of Israel.
See verse 1b.
1b What did he discover about being made right with God?
Was Abraham made right with God by his “good deeds”? (2a).
If that had been true, he would have had something to boast about (2b). But that was not God’s way (2c).
The answer is found in verse 3, which quotes Genesis 15:6.
3 For the Scriptures tell us, “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.”
This statement was written in Genesis 15:6 when Abram was 85 years old. It had been about ten years since God first called him to leave his country, his relatives and his father’s household.
Yet, Abram still had no child. He was even considering his servant as his heir (Genesis 15:2, 3). But God promised that he would have a son of his own and descendants as numerous as the stars (Genesis 15:4, 5).
See Genesis 15:6 NTL.
6 And Abram believed the Lord, and the Lord counted him as righteous because of his faith.
Despite his advanced age and the long waiting period of ten years — and still counting — Abraham believed God and trusted the future God had promised him: his own son and countless descendants.
At that very moment, God counted him as righteous — not because of his works, but because of his faith.
