What Has Abraham Found? Romans 4:1

Paul the apostle asked the Jews in Rome, “is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also: Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.”, and he asked, “Do we then make void the law through faith?” and answered, “God forbid: yes, we establish the law.” in chapter four and verse one of Romans, Paul asked “what” has “Abraham our father” “found” where we read:

What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, has found?

The verse begins, “What shall we say then that Abraham our father, ” Paul began with the words, “what shall we say” which means “what could Paul and his companions utter, declare or proclaim” “then” or “therefore, accordingly, consequently and these things being so” “that Abraham” whose name means “father of a multitude” and which refers to “the son of Terah and the founder of the Jewish nation” “our father” which means “Paul and his companions' generator or male ancestor”. Paul's question concerned “Father Abraham” whom God chose to begin the Jewish nation.

The verse continues, “as pertaining to the flesh, has found?” Paul added the words, “as pertaining” or “down from, through out and according” “to the flesh” which means “to the soft substance of the living body which cover the bones and is permeated with blood and the earthly nature of man apart from divine influence and prone to sin and opposed to God”, “has found” or “has come upon through searching, examination, scrutiny, observation, discovery, inquiry and thought”. Paul's question concerned “Abraham's” “flesh” nature.

When we meditate upon these words of Paul, we see him turn his focus toward “Abraham” whom his readers would know very well. Paul's attention was toward the “flesh nature” in “Abraham”, and his question concerned what he “discovered” within it. The “flesh nature” is contrary to God and His ways, and even as Abraham scrutinized his “flesh”, so also should we. When we do, we shall discover that only through Jesus Christ shall we ever be saved and made righteous before God.

Next time Paul shares,“if Abraham were justified by works, he has whereof to glory;”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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