Covenant Reformed News – April 2020 • Volume XVII, Issue 24
This article examines why Abraham serves as the primary biblical example of justification by faith alone, as presented in Romans 4. The author explains how Paul used Abraham's example to counter Jewish legalistic objections to the doctrine of salvation by grace through faith rather than works, demonstrating the apostolic defense of the gospel against first-century nomism.
Why Is Abraham the Example of Justification? Why is Abraham cited as the great example in the Word of God of one justified by faith alone? Out of the many characters in the Bible, there are two main reasons why he was selected by Paul through the Holy Spirit in Romans 4. Reason 1: Abraham was chosen in order to counter the anticipated Jewish objection to the rich gospel teaching of the preceding verses in Romans 3: “Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and...