(Read Romans 4:1-5)
This morning we continue our series “Grace that is Simply Amazing” by continuing to look at The Law given under Moses vs. the Grace provided by Jesus. Last week I laid the foundation from which we will now build. I want to start with the father of faith himself, Abraham. Abraham was blessed by God over 400 years before the Law. Therefore, Abraham could not have abided by the Law. So why and how did God bless Abraham? The answer is simple, by Grace. And how did Abraham access God’s Grace? That answer is also simple, by Faith.
In Romans 4 Paul speaks of Abraham. Paul says, “Abraham was, humanly speaking, the founder of our Jewish nation. What did he discover about being made right with God?” This is a key question. Abraham was seen as “right” by God, before the Law and before Jesus. So what was Abraham’s secret? Paul continues, “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.” Okay, we now know it was not works that made Abraham right, so it must have been something else. Paul continues, “For the Scriptures tell us, “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.” Paul makes it clear that Abraham was justified by faith and not by works, and certainly not by the Law. Paul goes on to explain, “When people work, their wages are not a gift, but something they have earned. But people are counted as righteous, not because of their work, but because of their faith in God who forgives sinners.” Like Abraham, we are not justified by works, but rather by faith.
So what does this mean to you today? A few things.
1. God approached Abraham by Grace. Abraham was a 75 year-old man, minding his own business, in the midst of idol worshippers, when the Lord approached him and offered to bless him. Abraham did nothing to deserve this, it was unquestionably the Grace of God.
2. God promised to bless Abraham by Grace. God said to Abraham, “I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you” (Gen 12:2,3). Notice all the times God said, “I will.” The emphasis was on what God wanted to do for Abraham and not what Abraham could do to earn it.
3. Abraham believed in a God he could not see. In the midst of a people who were worshipping idols, Abraham believed in a God he could not see and he believed this God he could not see would show up in his life in ways that he could see. You and I are blessed when we do the same.
4. By faith Abraham accessed God’s Grace. Abraham was declared righteous by faith, not by works. Abraham did not earn what God did for him, he did not deserve it, and he did not work for it. All Abraham did was believe God. God told Abraham all he wanted to do in his life by Grace and Abraham believed God by faith. By faith he accessed the Grace and he was declared righteous for it. The same happens with us. In Romans 5 Paul said, “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God” (Romans 5:1,2).
Closing Confession: Father, I thank You for Abraham and the example I see in him. Abraham was the father of faith and I seek to live by faith like he did. Abraham did nothing to cause you to initiate Your contact with him. You initiated the contact by Grace. You promised to bless him, to make his name great, and to bless all the families of the earth through him. This was his assignment in life. He did not earn it, he did not deserve it, and he could not work for it. All Abraham did was believe You. He believed in a God he could not see, and he believed this God he could not see would manifest Himself in his life in ways he could see. Abraham believed You and You counted it as righteousness. Abraham was not made right by works, he was made right by faith. Likewise, I have been justified through faith. I am not right because of my works. I have been declared right because of my faith in Jesus the Christ, Your Son. Like Abraham, I now seek to access Your Grace for my life through my faith. You reveal to me what You want to do in my life by Your Grace and I seek to access Your will by faith. You are not looking for me to earn Your blessing, or to work hard to deserve it. All You are looking for me to do is believe and I declare that I do! I believe God! I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
