Faith Like Abraham
Scripture Reading: Romans 4:1–12 (ESV)
1 What then shall we say was gained by Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh?
2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God.
3 For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.”
4 Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due.
5 And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness,
6 just as David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works:
7 “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven,
and whose sins are covered;
8 blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin.”
9 Is this blessing then only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? For we say that faith was counted to Abraham as righteousness.
10 How then was it counted to him? Was it before or after he had been circumcised? It was not after, but before he was circumcised.
11 He received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. The purpose was to make him the father of all who believe without being circumcised, so that righteousness would be counted to them as well,
12 and to make him the father of the circumcised who are not merely circumcised but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.
Paul points to Abraham as the prime example of justification by faith. Abraham was not declared righteous because of his works, his obedience, or even the covenant sign of circumcision. He was declared righteous because he believed God. That faith was credited to him as righteousness long before he performed any religious act.
David’s words echo the same truth: blessed are those whose sins are forgiven and whose record is wiped clean. This blessing is available to all who believe, Jew and Gentile alike.
As we reflect today, remember that our standing with God is not secured by our religious performance but by our faith in His promises. That faith will naturally lead to obedience, but obedience flows from grace, not from earning His favor.
Prayer Points:
Thank God for the example of Abraham’s faith.
Ask Him to strengthen your trust in His promises.
Pray that your obedience will be rooted in gratitude, not in trying to earn righteousness.