Romans 4:11-20 (NLT)

11-12 “Circumcision was a sign that Abraham already had faith and that God already accepted him and declared him to be righteous—even before he was circumcised.  So Abraham is the spiritual father of those who have faith but have not been circumcised.  They are counted as righteous because of their faith.  (12) And Abraham is also the spiritual father of those who have been circumcised, but only if they have the same kind of faith Abraham had before he was circumcised.”

13-15 “Clearly, God’s promise to give the whole earth to Abraham his descendants was based not on his obedience to God’s law, but on a right relationship with God that comes by faith.  (14) If God’s promise is only for those who obey the law, then faith is not necessary and the promise is pointless.  (15) For the law always brings punishment on those who try to obey it.  The only way to avoid breaking the law is to have no law to break.

I like the way the KJV words verse 15, “Because the law worketh wrath, for where no law is, there is no transgression.” 

16- “So the promise is received by faith.  It is given as a free gift.  And we are all certain to receive it, whether or not we live according to the Law of Moses, if we have faith like Abraham’s.  For Abraham is the father of all who believe.  (17) That is what the Scriptures mean when God told him, “I have made you the father of many nations.” This happened because Abraham believed in the God who brings the dead back to life and who creates new things out of nothing.”  Or as the KJV words it, “…he calleth those things that be not as though they were.”

18-20 “Even when there was no reason for hope, Abraham kept hoping—believing that he would become the father of many nations.  For God said to him, “That’s how many descendants you will have!” (19) And Abraham’s faith did not weaken, even though, at about 100 years of age, he figured his body was as good as dead—and so was Sarah’s womb. (20) Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise.  In fact his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God.” 

My comments:  I think today’s lesson is all about faith.  Abraham is our spiritual father that believed God, and because of his faith he was counted as righteous.  Anyone (Jew or Gentile) that has that same faith is considered to be Abraham’s descendant and will also be counted as righteous whether or not they follow the Law of Moses. It is faith in God, and a relationship with Him that matters.  If you read the account in Genesis, Abraham took things into his own hands when Sarah didn’t produce a child, and at Sarah’s request he produced a son (Ishmael) with his handmaid Hagar.  None of that is mentioned here, only that he had pure faith and he never wavered.  I think that is a demonstration that God blots out our failures, and speaks as though they never took place, as it says in Isaiah 43:25.