Exploring the Scripture
Last week began a 15-week series from Paul’s letter to the Romans. The letter was Paul’s effort to introduce himself and summarize his perspective on the nature of God, Christ, the church, and life as a disciple. The Christian faith was still new. Neither Paul nor his contemporaries had answers to the questions and controversies that would later divide Christianity. Paradox, simple reasoning, and obscure explanations mix with clear, straightforward affirmations—fertile ground for later theological exploration and digression.
Paul uses the religious history of the Jews to summarize God’s long-ranging plan for salvation. His purpose was to convince the Romans that faith, rather than Law, is the gauge for claiming God’s promise and grace. Today’s passage focuses on Abraham, a faith model and the “father of many nations” (v. 17).
In a culture that believed both human and divine beings were ruled by an unchangeable cycle of life and death, Abraham heard God calling him to do a something new. In faith, he left his home in Ur to travel to a new land. In return, God promised that he would father a great nation, despite his age. Through him, “all the families of the earth shall be blessed” (Genesis 12:3). Abraham was a Chaldean, not a Jew. God’s promise came before any wandering Hebrews before “Jews” were a people before there was Moses-the Law-Giver. Abraham “believed the Lord, and the Lord reckoned it to him as righteousness” (Genesis 15:6). “Righteousness” meant being in a right relationship with God.
Paul’s interpretation affirms Abraham as the father of both Jews and Gentiles—all who trust God and act on faith. Trying to win God’s approval by obeying the Law is doomed. No one can obey the Torah one hundred percent of the time. Therefore, God’s wrath (holy judgment) is certain. The promise becomes a threat. Besides, using the Law as the gauge for righteousness is futile for Gentiles who do not know the Law (v. 15). Instead, the gauge for being right with God must be faith, given by God through grace.
Only a God of surprises, who “gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist” (v. 17), can turn an elderly, childless man with a barren wife into the “father of many nations.” Abraham’s faith in a life-giving Creator put him into the right relationship with God. The faith of those who believe that God raised Jesus from death into life is also “reckoned to them as righteousness.” In other words, they, too, have built the right relationship with this God of the Impossible. Faith counts as fulfilling all the Law. Christ’s resurrection is proof of God’s ability to bring life out of nothingness.
Twenty-first-century believers doubt miracles, rely on reason, and scoff at the impossible. Or, we act as though we have the power to make the impossible happen if our faith is strong enough. Paul reminds us 1) that with God, all things are possible, and 2) faith is a gift, not a weapon with which to blackmail God into doing what we want. God gives faith to all those with open hearts and then counts it as righteousness.
Faith Unfiltered Podcast
Hosts Karin Peter and Blake Smith consider how this week's scripture connects to our lives today.
Central Ideas
- Rather than adherence to Jewish Law, faith is the gauge for claiming God’s promise and grace.
- Look for the acts of God in the strange and unexpected—and then respond in faith.
- Jews, Gentiles, all humankind are called to covenant with God in right relationships. There are no exceptions.
- Faith is a gift given by grace from a God for whom all things are possible.
Questions to Consider
- How has Christianity continued to promote Law, rather than faith, as the test of righteousness?
- What journey into the unknown is God calling you to undertake?
- How has God displayed restorative and creative power within your congregation or community?
- When has someone surprised you by being in right relationship with God? What does that say about grace and judgment?
- If faith is a God-given gift, why doesn’t everyone show unwavering faith in Christ?