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1.1 THE ILLUSTRATION OF ABRAHAM
2.1 A lead–off question
3.1 WHY THE ABRAHAM EXAMPLE?
4.1 Because he proves the point
4.2 Because of the respect given to him
4.3 Because it showed that this teaching is consistent with the Old Testament
3.2 THE MEANING OF “FLESH” HERE
4.1 Could mean “Physically descended”
4.2 Better choice: equivalent of works
2.2 Abraham had nothing to boast about before God
3.1 THE PERFORMANCE TRAP
3.2 GOD IS NOT IMPRESSED WITH PERFORMANCE
2.3 Why Abraham has no boast: He received righteousness only by faith
3.1 ABRAM 75 YEARS OLD WHEN HE LEFT UR
3.2 ABRAHAM 85 YEARS OLD WHEN GOD SPEAKS
3.3 ABRAHAM RECKONED RIGHTEOUS BEFORE HE DID HIS GOOD WORKS
4.1 Before he interceded for righteous souls in Sodom
4.2 Before he saw Isaac born
4.3 Before he offered up his only son on an altar
BUT James 2:21
Abraham’s act was evidence that he was justified some 25 years earlier in Genesis 15
3.4 ABRAHAM ANTICIPATED THE MESSIAH
1.2 THE PRINCIPLE FROM ABRAHAM’S ILLUSTRATION FOR US
2.1 A person who works receives what is due, which is contrary to grace
2.2 Even the ungodly can be saved, because faith is credited as righteousness
1 What then shall we say that Abraham our father has found 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 accounted to him for righteousness.” 4 Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt. 5 But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness, (NKJV)
