Abraham is actually the “father” of all believers, all who belong to the “household of faith”
- A shock to Jews: (4:11): It must have been a shock for the Jewish readers of this letter to see that Paul called Abraham the father of uncircumcised people! Faith, not circumcision, is the vital link to Abraham. It is far more important to have Abraham’s faith (and the righteousness imputed to him because of it) than it is to have Abraham’s circumcision.
- Promise extends: (4:12): What is written of Abraham is also written of his children, which means that promises given to Abraham extends to his descendants. This principle of “justified by faith” is extended to all Abraham’s spiritual descendants in other words, those who believe and those who also walk in the steps of the faith of Abraham.
- Abraham’s offspring justified by faith: (4:13-14): God dealings with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob happened before the giving of Mosaic Law or the ceremony of circumcision to them, Abraham was justified on the basis righteousness through faith. The promises are not given on the basis of law but on the basis of righteousness through faith alone. Faith alone is the ground of God’s blessing. The promise given to Abraham was not only for the land of Canaan, but also the whole world. The final reward would be given in the future at the end of the world (Rev.21-22).
- The law gives us wrath: (4:15): Paul clearly explains why a person cannot be a heir through the Law. No person can keep or fulfil the law. Every person is bound to break the law. Breaking of the law makes us transgressors. But if the law is not there, there is no transgression which is more dangerous. Transgression is the over-stepping of the line or limit. Our inability to keep the law means our transgression becomes a vehicle of God’s wrath. The Law was never given to save anyone; the Law only brings wrath and reveals sin. The Law completely cancels grace, just as works will cancel faith; the two cannot exist side by side.
- God’s grace alone is the root cause of our justification: (4:16a): Faith is related to grace just as works are related to law. Grace and law are the principles and faith and works are the means by which we pursue those principles for our relationship with God. We are not saved by our faith simply but it was God’s grace saved us through our faith in Him. We receive Salvation by the principle of Grace through faith. Grace cannot be received through works whether they are past works or present works etc. “Grace and faith are congruous, and will draw together in the same chariot, but grace and merit are contrary the one another and pull opposite ways, and therefore God has not chosen to yoke them together” (Spurgeon).
- Abraham is the father of us all: (4:16b-17): The promise of God was that Abraham would be the father of many nations (Gen.17:2-4), that the entire world would be blessed through him. If our relationship with God is according to grace (not circumcision or law keeping) then that relationship is for all those who are of the faith of Abraham even though they are not of his lineage. The promise of Abraham the father was fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ was born in the lineage of Abraham and through faith in Him, Salvation is offered to the whole world.
If God could call the dead womb of Sarah to life, he can call those who are dead in trespasses and sins (Eph.2:1) to new life in Jesus.
“I’m greatly comforted when God speaks about me as righteous, justified, glorified, holy, pure, and saintly. God can talk about such things before they exist, because He knows they will exist.” (Smith) Abraham’s example also helps us to understand the nature of faith. Abraham is not only the father of the Jews, but he is “the father of us all,” all who follow in his steps of faith. The conception of Abraham’s son Isaac was a miracle, but it was not an immaculate conception. Abraham’s faith did not mean that he did nothing and just waited for God to create a child in Sarah’s womb. Abraham and Sarah had marital relations and trusted God for a miraculous result. This shows us that faith does not mean doing nothing, but doing everything with trust and reliance on God. (thought taken from David Guzik’s commentary).