OF ABRAHAM, OUR RACIAL ANCESTOR. Paul has said that being put right with God has nothing to do with the Law. It is through faith, from beginning to end (Romans 1:17). Now he shows the example of Abraham. WHAT WAS HIS EXPERIENCE? Paul asks: "Was Abraham put right with God by works of law, or by faith... [ Continue Reading ]
BY THE THINGS HE DID. If he was_ put right with God_ by his OWN MERIT, this would give him something to boast about. BUT HE CANNOT. See Romans 3:19-20 and notes.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SCRIPTURE SAYS. Paul quotes Genesis 15:6 here, and in Galatians 3:6; also James 2:23. Abraham believed God's promise to him of a son by Sarah, and this faith was the basis on which God accepted him as righteous. Faith obeys (_see note on_ James 2:19).... [ Continue Reading ]
A MAN WHO WORKS IS PAID. _Lipscomb_ says: "If one relies on his own works to merit salvation, the reward is reckoned not as a favor [grace] from God, but as payment of debt for works. This is contrary to the whole principle of justification by grace. Man is a lost and helpless sinner, saved by the g... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT THE MAN WHO HAS FAITH. This speaks of the man who _does not_ try to _earn_ salvation through his own merit. If human merit were required for salvation, then no one could be saved at all because of the principle in James 2:10. Our actions can never be anything but imperfect (1 John 1:8-10). Howev... [ Continue Reading ]
THIS IS WHAT DAVID MEANT. Paul has shown us Abraham was _put right with God_ through his faith, rather than through the things which he did. Now he shows us David speaking about the same faith.... [ Continue Reading ]
WHOSE SIN HE HAS COVERED OVER. This uses the symbolism of the sacrifices of the Law in which the blood of the sacrifice _covered over_ the _sins_ so they could be forgiven.... [ Continue Reading ]
HIS FAITH DID NOT LEAVE HIM. He did not argue the impossibility of the promise, but waited patiently for it to come true!... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT GOD WOULD BE ABLE TO DO. He believed God had the ability to do this, and he believed that God would keep his promise to him.... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT IS WHY. Because he was absolutely sure! This faith demonstrated itself in everything he did.... [ Continue Reading ]
WERE NOT WRITTEN FOR HIM ALONE. This speaks of the one who was inspired to write these words [Moses, in Genesis 15:6]. He pointed forward to Christ, and those who would be _accepted as righteous_ through their faith in him.... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY WERE WRITTEN ALSO FOR US. We are shown the example of Abraham so that we also might believe. Compare Romans 1:16-17.... [ Continue Reading ]
HE WAS GIVEN OVER TO DIE. See Hebrews 2:9-10. This was God's act in Christ to _set men free._ When Christ was raised to life, this became the guarantee of all our hopes. Paul makes the _death, burial, and resurrection_ the focal point of the Good News (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). Note how he stresses the... [ Continue Reading ]