What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. ~ Romans 4:1-5  

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 Sarah’s womb: He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness. ~ Romans 4:19-22

The two references above are both part of Paul’s teaching on justification by faith. The first reference (Romans 4:1-5) tells us about Abraham’s faith as recorded in Genesis 15. God promised Abraham that his descendants would be innumerable as the stars in the heavens. Abraham believed and his faith was counted to him as righteousness.

At this point in Abraham’s journey of faith, he was still known as Abram and was childless. Ishmael, who was about 14 years old when Isaac was born, had not yet been conceived.

Now, the second reference which also speaks of the imputation of righteousness to Abraham refers to many years later, the time of Issac’s birth. According to Paul, Abraham was declared righteous both when he believed God while he was childless and when Isaac was born many years later. Sandwiched in between is the walk of faith.

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: 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. 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. For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect: Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression. 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… ~ v 11-16

Notice the language, he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised…

Paul, speaking from the vantage point of Abraham’s faith, looks back and declares that the same faith he had when he was circumcised, is the faith he also had years earlier before he was circumcised. This is key to understanding Paul’s argument in Romans 4. Paul is not arguing the soteriology of Calvinism or the Southern Baptist Convention.

In Paul’s mind, Abraham’s faith is synonyms with his faithfulness to God. In Galatians, Paul says, So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham. ~ 3:9.

You will not find a single text in the New Testament that sets forth Abraham’s faith as justification for a one time believing experience. Abraham’s faith is spoken of in view of the walk of faith that we are called into. This is what Paul has in mind when he speaks of justification by the free grace of God. He is not referring to the grace of God justifying someone who only has a moment of decisional belief not followed by a walk of faith. He is referring to belief in the promise of God by those who walk it out as did Abraham.

In Genesis 15, Abraham believed God and was counted as righteous. In chapter 16, he tried to help God’s promise by having a child with Sarah’s maid servant. In chapter 17, he was given the covenant of circumcision because he was still walking by faith. In chapter 18, God informed him of what he was planning to do to Sodom and Gomorrah because of Abraham’s faith and righteous life in the sight of God.

And the Lord said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do; seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment; that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him. ~ Genesis 18:17-19

Notice that God boasts in Abraham’s integrity of heart and in his faith. Keep in mind that this is many years after Abraham believed God and was declared righteous. Abraham is still abiding in the faith he had in the beginning at this point in his life.

According the the scriptures, Abraham had integrity of heart (Genesis 20:5-6) and a faithful heart towards God (Nehemiah 9:7, 8) and Abraham is called the friend of God (2 Chronicles 20:7; Isaiah 41:8; James 2:23). All these are a testimony to Abraham’s faith to which the one who is justified is called to follow.

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… ~ Romans 4:16

You cannot consider yourself a child of Abraham if you are not following in the steps of Abraham’s faith, and doing the works of Abraham. Consider the following from the words of Jesus to the Jews who opposed him in John 8.

I know that ye are Abraham’s seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you. I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father. They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham’s children, ye would do the works of Abraham. But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham. ~ John 8:37-40

If these Jews to whom Jesus speaks had been Abraham’s true children, they would have believed Jesus and followed him as Abraham believed God and followed him. Abraham’s faith grew until he was strong in faith, giving glory to God and being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.

When the New Testament speaks of Abraham’s faith, it is the whole life of faith (Abraham’s faithfulness) that the authors are setting before us. For instance, the author of Hebrews takes us even further than Paul does in Romans 4, where Paul teaches justification by faith in view of Abraham’s faith from the promise (Genesis 15) to birth of Isaac (Genesis 21).

The writer of Hebrews warns against giving up on our faith by setting forth the example of Abraham’s offering of Isaac on the altar when Isaac was a young man.

And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises. For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself, Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee. ~ Hebrews 6:11-14

These are the words that God spoke to Abraham when his faith was tried and he offered up Isaac. In chapter 11, the writer of Hebrews tells us,  By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure. ~ v.17-19

Now, notice those words, in Isaac shall thy seed be called. This echos God”s promise from the beginning, the middle and comes to fruition in the end by a foreshowing of the resurrection of Jesus.

This was God’s promise in the beginning:

And Abram said, Lord God, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus? And Abram said, Behold, to me thou hast given no seed: and, lo, one born in my house is mine heir. And, behold, the word of the Lord came unto him, saying, This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir. And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be. ~ Genesis 15:2-5

This was God’s promise in the middle:

And Abraham said unto God, O that Ishmael might live before thee! And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him. ~ Genesis 17:18-19

God’s promise grew in Abraham and took root and became so strong, that Abraham did not flinch when God asked him to offer up Isaac as a burnt offering. Abraham was so convinced that God would fulfill his promise that through Isaac he would become the father of many nations, he expected God to raise him from the dead. Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.

Abraham’s faith serves as the example of the kind of faith we are called into. The longer we walk with God, the more persuaded we become of his faithfulness to us, and thus our faithfulness to him grows into righteous and godly living that cannot be divided from our faith.

But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. ~ James 2:20-24

Abraham’s continued faithfulness to the end fulfilled the scripture that declared him righteous in the beginning. If Abraham had not continued to believe God’s promises, or had refused to offer up Isaac, the scripture would not have been fulfilled.

So it is with us, if we want the scripture of God’s free grace fulfilled in our lives we must be followers of them who through faith and patience, inherit the promise, as did Abraham. It’s not the beginning of our faith that will be rewarded, its the end of our faith that will be rewarded at the appearing of Jesus Christ ~ 1 Peter 1:8-9

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. ~ Romans 1:16-17

The righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith. Ponder that in view of Abraham’s journey and the scripture being fulfilled which said, “he believed God and it was counted to him as righteousness” when Abraham offerer up Isaac.

May God give us all understanding.