Romans 4:1-5, 13-17
1 What then are we to say was gained by Abraham, our ancestor 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 reckoned to him as righteousness." 4 Now to one who works, wages are not reckoned as a gift but as something due. 5 But to one who without works trusts him who justifies the ungodly, such faith is reckoned as righteousness.
13 For the promise that he would inherit the world did not come to Abraham or to his descendants through the law but through the righteousness of faith. 14 If it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void. 15 For the law brings wrath; but where there is no law, neither is there violation. 16 For this reason it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his descendants, not only to the adherents of the law but also to those who share the faith of Abraham (for he is the father of all of us, 17 as it is written, "I have made you the father of many nations")—in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist.
Reflection
It's all about faith! No, wait a minute... It's all about works! We must obey the Law passed down. But, if it's all about works and I can obey the Law... then I don't need God. But to date, I can only think of one person that has been able to obey the Law completely. So, we are all left out of this equation and all of life is meaningless.
In my mind, it's not ALL about faith and/or it's not ALL about works and the Law. It's ALL about God.
So, what is this "promise" that we have been given? God promised Abraham a great reward. A reward of many children. More children than Abraham could ever imagine. But to Abraham, named Abram at the time, he couldn't see the reality of this promise, Abram was old and childless. Children seemed out of Abram's realm of imagination. So, Abram needed faith to believe in the promise God was giving. Abram needed to trust in the Word of God and believe. It wasn't about Abram needing to become fertile, or Abram needing to be righteous before God because of any works that Abram could accomplish. It was about God's promise and the truth of the promise that Abram would be the father of many nations.
It wasn't about faith or works or the Law. It was about God. God was going to act in Abram's life. Abram had just better believe it. So, did Abram have a choice? Well, I really don't know. But Abram could choose to have faith in what God promised. Abram could choose to be an active participant in relationship with God in God's works in Abram's life. Abram could choose to follow the Law to please God because of Abram's love for God and God's ways.
Abram was receiving a call. A call that came with a promise. God was going to use Abram and bring along a whole host of people after Abram in the promise as well. Abram was going to be the father of all of us who God calls and promises a relationship. So, when all is said and done... it's not about Abraham, it's not about faith, it's not about works, but it's about God and the relationship God chooses to have with all God's people.
Oh, how Abraham's faith would be tested! But God's promise to Abram stood eternal in the giving of Jesus as that sacrifice upon that altar of the cross. It wasn't the blood of Abraham's son that was shed, but rather the blood of Jesus as God the Father gave up God the Son as the ultimate sacrifice for all the people's sin. Yes... it's ALL about God!
And those people include me and you and everyone else. God wants a relationship with each of us and all of us. God promised children to Abram and here we are. The children of Abraham did not die upon that altar. God kept the promise. And in this promise, God gave a Son to die for our failure to be able to keep the Law. Jesus, died for our sinful separation from God to bring back into relationship with God all the children because God wants a relationship with you, with me and with all of us together.
We are God's creation and we are God's people. So, we can choose something now. We can choose to have faith, like Abram did and believe in the promise that God sets before us, or we can choose to run from God. Either way God wants a relationship with us.
It's ALL about God and in God we have faith. And through faith we respond with the works that God would have us do as we live in relationship with God and with one another.
I leave you with a song by Chris Rice that reminds me of how Abraham lived and how I live my life holding on to God's hand in a relationship of faith through the questions of life.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rUgUUoqKAz4
Prayer
Lord, as I recall your relationship with Abraham help me to live out my life in the faith and love and trust that can only occur through you and you alone... today... tomorrow... and forever. --- Amen
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