1. The Epistle to the Galatians
Abraham is Justified by Faith: Galatians 3:6-9
Galatians 3:6 - “Just as Abraham "believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.”
The Galatians would have to reply to the questions of Gal 3:5, is the receiving of the Holy Spirit ‘by the hearing of faith?’
‘Yes,’ says Paul, ‘Just as Abraham, ….’
As a reminder or even for some a new revelation, God is using Abraham as an example of justification by grace through faith (Rom 4:1-25).
Why Abraham?
The certainty we have that Abraham was a saved man.
Justification is by believing.
Abraham’s salvation was before circumcision and the Law.
Abraham’s faith exemplified.
Gen 15:5,6 ‘Then He brought him outside and said, "Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them.” And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be”. And he believed in the Lord, and 1
May 9, 2010 Bob Eckel

2. The Epistle to the Galatians
Abraham is Justified by Faith: Galatians 3:6-9
He accounted it to him for righteousness.’
And Who was the object of Abraham’s (and our) faith?
GOD
Ron Merryman – ‘Faith is actually an avowal of no merit, for faith always looks to or relies on the merit of its object.’
And remember we were saved, are being saved, and will be saved!
And how easily is this faith of ours misplaced!
Let’s think of some examples in the world system and for that matter in the body of Christ.
Cultural righteousness
Religious righteousness
Personal righteousness
accounted to him – doesn’t this seem kind of weak?
elogisthē - at the time was used as an accounting term – to put to one’s account.
Translated as think 9x, impute 8x, reckon 6x, count 5x, account 4x. 2
May 9, 2010 Bob Eckel

3. The Epistle to the Galatians
Abraham is Justified by Faith: Galatians 3:6-9
Perhaps the banks of Paul’s day were a bit more secure than today?
But a bank should invest on its account by believing in its value.
Galatians 3:7 – “Therefore know that [only] those who are of faith are sons of Abraham.”
Know here is ginoska - experiential
Abraham’s case is exemplary for all – Jew and Gentile.
Rom 4:23-24 ‘Now it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him, but also for us. It shall be imputed to us who believe in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead,’
Gal 3:29 ‘And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.’
‘of’ or ek is important here – ‘out from’ is a stronger and better interpretation
And this principle of faith as man’s relationship to God has been unchanging since the garden.
Notice the contrast to those who claimed Abraham as their father but not their spiritual father – John 8:37-44. 3
May 9, 2010 Bob Eckel

4. The Epistle to the Galatians
Abraham is Justified by Faith: Galatians 3:6-9
Galatians 3:8 – “And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, [saying], ‘In you all the nations shall be blessed.’
The Scripture – how so very important.
Gal 3:22, 4:30, John 7:38,42, 19:37, Rom 9:17, 2 Tim 3:15-17
Gen 12:3 ‘I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’
Acts 3:25 "You are sons of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying to Abraham, `And in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed.'
would justify – present active indicative
Gentiles 93x, nations 64x, heathen 5x
The Jewish perspective about the Gentiles and liberated Jews
They did fulfill the task of propagating the name of Jehovah
They did not receive the rite of circumcision as the ticket to a relationship
WRONG CONCLUSIONS - This is an entirely different principle. 4
May 9, 2010 Bob Eckel

5. The Epistle to the Galatians
Abraham is Justified by Faith: Galatians 3:6-9
Rom 3:28-30 ‘Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law. Or [is He] the God of the Jews only? [Is He] not also the God of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also, since [there is] one God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith.’
preaching the gospel
to announce good news in advance
Heb 4:2 ‘For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it.’
Gal 3:16 ‘Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, "And to seeds," as of many, but as of one, "And to your Seed," who is Christ.’
Wow, isn’t this preaching the gospel in times past to Abraham profound?
How much did Abraham really know?
Galatians 3:9 – “Therefore know that [only] those who are of faith are sons of Abraham.” 5
May 9, 2010 Bob Eckel

6. The Epistle to the Galatians
Abraham is Justified by Faith: Galatians 3:6-9
Gospel = Abraham’s way = Faith = Justification = Salvation = One in Christ
‘of faith’ again ‘out of faith’
those out of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham
And this is all Grace
Rom 4:16 Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be sure to all the seed, 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.
Trusting in what God has provided In Christ is never misplaced trust.
1 John 5:12 - He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.
Gal 3:29 And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.
Gal 3:14 - that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. 6
May 9, 2010 Bob Eckel