Abraham Looks Up at the Stars as God Speaksby Ironbark
4:3Romans 4:3
For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
Abraham believed God's promise that a son of his own would be his heir and his descendants would be as countless as the stars, and God counted that belief as righteousness. He was counted righteous because he believed God, not because he earned it by works, for the reward is by grace and not as a debt owed for labor, and it is faith in the God who justifies the ungodly that is counted for righteousness. Sinners who truly trust Christ as personal Saviour receive His righteousness in place of their own guilt, for Christ the innocent Sin-bearer takes their sins through His complete sacrifice. That faith trusts His power to save, works by love and purifies the soul, gives itself to God in obedience, and is shown by works. The opening question makes Scripture itself the authority to consult when questions arise, so that teaching rests on a plain Thus saith the Lord from the Bible alone rather than on human tradition, theories, or opinions.
Meaning and Historical Setting
The counting for righteousness was God's response to Abraham believing the promise that a son of his own would be his heir and that his offspring would be as countless as the stars in heaven. That belief came after Abraham returned troubled from battle, fearful of revenge from the defeated nations, grieving that he had still not taken possession of Canaan and still had no heir. At first he did not lay hold with unquestioning confidence on the assurance that God was his shield and his exceedingly great reward, but prayed for tangible evidence and proposed his servant Eliezer as heir by adoption.
The same faith that was counted for righteousness afterward trusted even under the command to offer Isaac, yielding to the sacrifice in his heart. In that trial Abraham trusted that God was able to raise Isaac from the dead. His experience stands as the pattern of the complete trust in God that believers are to have.
Righteousness Through Faith Alone
Abraham was counted righteous because he believed God, not because he earned righteousness through works. The reward bestowed on that belief is grace, not a debt owed for labor done. It is faith in the God who justifies the ungodly that is counted for righteousness. Because righteousness is received through faith in this way, no one has works to boast of before God. No one can claim a reward as a right or consider himself privileged above others.
Sinners who truly trust Christ as personal Saviour receive Christ's righteousness instead of their own guilt. Christ, the innocent Sin-bearer, takes their sins through His complete sacrifice. His righteousness is imputed to those who hunger and thirst for it.
The faith that claims Christ's righteousness trusts His power to save and gives itself to God in obedience. That faith works by love and purifies the soul. Believers show such faith by their works. Through such faith human nature can grasp the divine nature.
Scripture's Authority and Obedience
When questions arise on which there is uncertainty, the opening inquiry makes Scripture itself the authority to consult, and matters God has not revealed are not grounds for speculation. Teaching is to be based on a plain Thus saith the Lord from the Bible and the Bible alone, with every lesson grounded in that word rather than in the ideas and opinions of men. Questions are to be answered by directing people to what Scripture says, rather than replacing it with human tradition, theories, or speculation.
The question directs hearers to attend to what Scripture says by hearing the gospel rightly and receiving God's word with meekness. Salvation and eternal welfare depend on that hearing and receiving.
The same question calls for Scripture to guide what is taught and prized, so that students need a knowledge of Scripture in order to remain loyal to God and to value His truth and law. Those studying justification by faith in this way have no cause to fear that justification by faith is carried too far and the law is not dwelt on enough.
Believing God and relying on Him is righteousness that brings efficiency and power from God for His work and service to all believing people who avail themselves of His promises, just as He gave power to Joseph, Samuel, Daniel, Timothy, and many others. Men and women must move by faith and press through the cloud of objections Satan brings to hinder progress. When they trust God as Helper and Efficiency they may pass safely through the great darkness of men's unconsecration.
Abraham believed God's promise that a son of his own would be his heir and his descendants would be as countless as the stars, and God counted that belief as righteousness. He was counted righteous because he believed God, not because he earned it by works, for the reward is by grace and not as a debt owed for labor, and it is faith in the God who justifies the ungodly that is counted for righteousness. Sinners who truly trust Christ as personal Saviour receive His righteousness in place of their own guilt, for Christ the innocent Sin-bearer takes their sins through His complete sacrifice. That faith trusts His power to save, works by love and purifies the soul, gives itself to God in obedience, and is shown by works. The opening question makes Scripture itself the authority to consult when questions arise, so that teaching rests on a plain Thus saith the Lord from the Bible alone rather than on human tradition, theories, or opinions.
Meaning and Historical Setting
The counting for righteousness was God's response to Abraham believing the promise that a son of his own would be his heir and that his offspring would be as countless as the stars in heaven. That belief came after Abraham returned troubled from battle, fearful of revenge from the defeated nations, grieving that he had still not taken possession of Canaan and still had no heir. At first he did not lay hold with unquestioning confidence on the assurance that God was his shield and his exceedingly great reward, but prayed for tangible evidence and proposed his servant Eliezer as heir by adoption.
The same faith that was counted for righteousness afterward trusted even under the command to offer Isaac, yielding to the sacrifice in his heart. In that trial Abraham trusted that God was able to raise Isaac from the dead. His experience stands as the pattern of the complete trust in God that believers are to have.
Righteousness Through Faith Alone
Abraham was counted righteous because he believed God, not because he earned righteousness through works. The reward bestowed on that belief is grace, not a debt owed for labor done. It is faith in the God who justifies the ungodly that is counted for righteousness. Because righteousness is received through faith in this way, no one has works to boast of before God. No one can claim a reward as a right or consider himself privileged above others.
Sinners who truly trust Christ as personal Saviour receive Christ's righteousness instead of their own guilt. Christ, the innocent Sin-bearer, takes their sins through His complete sacrifice. His righteousness is imputed to those who hunger and thirst for it.
The faith that claims Christ's righteousness trusts His power to save and gives itself to God in obedience. That faith works by love and purifies the soul. Believers show such faith by their works. Through such faith human nature can grasp the divine nature.
Scripture's Authority and Obedience
When questions arise on which there is uncertainty, the opening inquiry makes Scripture itself the authority to consult, and matters God has not revealed are not grounds for speculation. Teaching is to be based on a plain Thus saith the Lord from the Bible and the Bible alone, with every lesson grounded in that word rather than in the ideas and opinions of men. Questions are to be answered by directing people to what Scripture says, rather than replacing it with human tradition, theories, or speculation.
The question directs hearers to attend to what Scripture says by hearing the gospel rightly and receiving God's word with meekness. Salvation and eternal welfare depend on that hearing and receiving.
The same question calls for Scripture to guide what is taught and prized, so that students need a knowledge of Scripture in order to remain loyal to God and to value His truth and law. Those studying justification by faith in this way have no cause to fear that justification by faith is carried too far and the law is not dwelt on enough.
Believing God and relying on Him is righteousness that brings efficiency and power from God for His work and service to all believing people who avail themselves of His promises, just as He gave power to Joseph, Samuel, Daniel, Timothy, and many others. Men and women must move by faith and press through the cloud of objections Satan brings to hinder progress. When they trust God as Helper and Efficiency they may pass safely through the great darkness of men's unconsecration.