NOT BY WORKS
NOT BY WORKS
ROMANS 4:5-8
Paul drives his point home: salvation is by faith not works.
It was a bold affirmation at the end of chapter 3 when Paul claimed that the Law and the Prophets contained the root of his doctrine that salvation was by faith. It was natural enough that the great father of the Hebrew people (Matthew 3:9) should be quoted as a test case. Paul is glad to examine the great story in that context, and does so in both this passage and the letter to the Galatians. That is why not only the story of Abraham in Genesis, but also Galatians 3, should be read in connection with these readings.
Paul’s point has been that deeds do not win a saving merit, even if those deeds be the observance of the Law. It is rather faith, a simple trust which takes God at his word, which justifies. To the Jew of Paul’s day brought up on the Law, this was revolutionary. Paul replies that, on the contrary, the most honored figure in their history is the prime and perfect illustration.
Abraham had recognized the voice of God in the mighty conviction that held him. God was one, and God must be made known. It seemed impossible, in view of his childlessness, that he could become a great nation, that he could father the children implied in the “stars of heaven” and the “sand which is on the sea shore” (Genesis 22:17). More, did not his trust endure as the years went by, and an heir seemed impossible, did he not continue to believe when it appeared that the heir, at last apparent, was to be removed from him by his own hand?
Some rabbinical thought had seen this rebuff to their legalism, and had argued that Abraham was chosen because he was the most righteous man available. There is no evidence for this. Abraham was fallible. He moved ahead of God in the matter of Hagar. Earlier he had abandoned Palestine for Egypt. He had lied to Pharaoh.
It must have been faith which counted, as the great word to Abraham said (Genesis 15:6). And more than a millennium later, Paul repeats, the great king and psalmist confirmed the truth. Therefore Psalm 32:1f. which are a reaching for New Testament truth.