Romans 4:16b-17 - The Assurance of Faith

Romans 4:16b-17 - 16b not only to those who are of the Law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all, 17 (as it is written, “A father of many nations have I made you”) in the presence of Him whom he believed, even God, who gives life to the dead and calls into being that which does not exist.

Message: Faith is for all and Abraham is the father of us all.

Time: The date of the book is probably 60 A.D. written from Corinth on Paul's third missionary journey. The church in Rome seems to be established and Romans does not speak of any one error in the church that he is addressing. The church had a large Jewish element, but also filled with Gentile converts from paganism, both free as well as slaves.

What the Lord is Saying:

The Gospel
A person is not made righteous by doing good works because good works only affirm in a person obedience to a Law or standard and these rules are not intended to save a person. Why? Because no one is perfect. No one is good; no one is righteous (Romans 3). Instead, we are to have faith in Christ, trust in Him and His righteousness. All of our wrong behavior is then imputed on Christ or transferred to Christ and Christ then credits us with righteousness. He takes the good that He is (actually the perfect) and transfers it to the believer. The believer trusts God and does good works. Good works are automatic in the life of the believer. A surrendered heart to God will do good works. 

The Set-Up
Verse 16a tells us that because the Law and circumcision do not save a person, it is faith that makes us right with God. And this faith is in accordance with grace. God has done it all and simply erects faith as the instrument by which the transaction takes place in a person's life. We are saved by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8). And in so doing, the promises of God for his people are guaranteed to His people; His offspring.

Today's Text
And now here I am at today's text. And Paul continues to repeat to drive home his points. In essence he confirms once again that faith is for all people. It is not only to those who are of the Law. It is not only to the Jewish people. But it is also to those who are the faith of Abraham. And what did I see is the faith of our father Abraham? Romans 4:11-12 spoke of this. Abraham is the father of all who believe without being circumcised.

What Paul is saying is monumental. The Jew held to the Law and circumcision. Romans 3:2 told the Jew that they had been entrusted with the Law. But, the Law came 430 years after Abraham had been declared righteous by faith. And so Abraham is even more so the Father of those that are not Jews because Abraham was made righteous before the Law was present.

Romans 4:12 tells me that "yes", Abraham is the father of all those of circumcision. But Abraham is also father of all those of the uncircumcised. I believe this is a very apt and necessary reminder to all people.

Verse 17, "as it is written." Paul wants to be clear that he is not presenting new material. New Testament theology is not new theology, but affirming and clarifying the Old. And what was written is not old news that has no applicability today. It is a permanent record that continues to express truth today.

Genesis 17:5 states that when God changed Abraham's name from Abram, he told him that he would be the father of a multitude of nations (circumcised and uncircumcised). The word "made" is in the perfect to show us that this promise is permanent and still relevant today. In fact, it was a done deal. It is really something that has always been.

"in the sight of Him" or "in the Presence of Him who he believed" -- This is interesting. The focus of these verses is "those." It is those that have faith. Those can be Jews (circumcised) and non-Jews (uncircumcised). And to me what it leads up to in verse 17 is that the faith that they had was in the presence of Him whom he believed; "he believed" tends to be talking of Abraham and "Him" I think is Christ. But, I am not sure. I have looked at a very commentaries but don't understand this little phrase and what it means here. I guess what I wonder is the declaration that God made to Abraham as the father of us all, was that declaration done here in the presence of Christ? Is that what Paul is saying?

Continuing on in verse 17, Paul states that God (1) gives life to the dead and (2) calls into being that which does not exist. According to the commentary I read this speaks of God giving Abraham and Sarah a son, in Isaac, at an old age. My first impression is God gives life to those who are dead in their sin. He gives man eternal life and a fulfilled life. And God calls into being, into life that which does not exist. Both statements have similar ideas.

Promise:God's message does not change and His promises to His people remain for all times.