In this chapter Paul is continuing his point that righteousness or obedience does not come by our works but rather through Faith in God and his promises. Now he uses Abraham as an example of what he is talking about.
Rom 4:1 What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?
First Paul starts with a question. Abraham who was born in the flesh like you and me. what did he find what made him special?
Rom 4:2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.
Rom 4:3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
Notice that Paul reasons that Abraham really has no reason to glory in himself, because all he did was believe God and thus he received the promise of Gods righteousness. now listen to his point further to this.
Rom 4:4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.
Paul reasons here that those who work for salvation cannot have grace. Thus how can they be saved being that salvation is through Grace? They cannot nor can they work for it.
Rom 4:5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
Righteousness comes thorough Faith in the one who promised it.
Rom 4:6 Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,
Rom 4:7 Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.
Rom 4:8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.
notice these words, God imputeth righteousness without works. that word impute means to assign or attribute a characteristic to someone or something. in this case Gods righteousness His perfect Character is attributed to us without our works. praise God for this wonderful Gift.
How does this happen? verse 7 says that our sins are forgiven and covered, covered with what? we were just told, the righteousness of Jesus covers our sins. it is His death and His life that is imputed to us and covers our sins. God forever be praised. so in light of this, God does not impute our sins to us. Praise God for his mercy.
Rom 4:9 Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness.
Rom 4:10 How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision.
Rom 4:11 And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also:
Notice that Abraham even though he was considered righteous for believing God. he still had works of circumcision that came afterward. This was the seal of the righteousness which came by faith.
Abraham received the seal of God because of the works that followed his faith.
Eph 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
notice that first we hear the word of truth/gospel, then we believe/faith after which we are sealed by the spirit of promise. Remember the Gentiles obeyed the law because of the spirit in their hearts. So law keeping is the result of salvation.
Did God give Israel the law first or save them from slavery first? Did He not free them from Egypt and baptize them through the sea first. Only then where they given the law. Salvation comes first the law is the fruit of salvation.
Rom 4:12 And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised.
Rom 4:13 For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.
Rom 4:14 For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect:
Rom 4:15 Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.
Paul now reasons that Abraham received this righteousness promise before circumcision. This promise did not come through the law but by faith in God. He goes on to reason that if the law could give righteousness then why would we need faith. The very fact that we need faith shows that righteousness does not come from the law.
Listen to Paul's point for saying this.
Rom 4:16 Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,
Interesting Paul says hear that the Gentiles are like Abraham. remember chapter 2 it was the gentiles who did not have the law. yet Paul told us that they had the law by the spirit on their hearts. they are like Abraham. So the promise is not only to those who have the law/Jews but also those of faith/gentiles.
Rom 4:17 (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.
Righteousness only comes by faith in the grace of God in his promise. Abraham had faith and thus was credited to him the righteousness of Jesus whom had not yet come. yet Abraham believed and thus accepted that which was not as if it were. and became the Father of both the Jews and the Gentiles. all who believe and have faith in Jesus.
Rom 4:18 Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.
Rom 4:19 And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara's womb:
Rom 4:20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;
Rom 4:21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.
Rom 4:22 And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.
Abraham believed and thus he received the righteousness of Jesus. Before Jesus had come.
Notice these words:
Gen 26:5 Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.
Now Abraham obeyed Gods commandments and laws. how?
same way as the gentiles. though they did not have the law, they still kept it because by faith the Spirit wrote the law on their hearts. righteousness without the law. are you starting to grasp what righteousness without the law means. it does not mean we don't have to obey. It just means that the law is not on stone or separated from us. but rather it is on our hearts and becomes our nature.
now Paul will move this to us.
Rom 4:23 Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him;
Rom 4:24 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;
Rom 4:25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.
We may have this same righteousness imputed to us, all we have to do is believe the promise in Jesus. this is our justification. same way Abraham God it. You may be seeing some things come to light in Galatians as we study this.
Paul is clear that we cannot earn our justification. We cannot work to earn it, we cannot even help. Our job is to believe and accept. it is a gift of God and totally free. just accept it.
Blessings.
Rom 4:1 What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?
First Paul starts with a question. Abraham who was born in the flesh like you and me. what did he find what made him special?
Rom 4:2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.
Rom 4:3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
Notice that Paul reasons that Abraham really has no reason to glory in himself, because all he did was believe God and thus he received the promise of Gods righteousness. now listen to his point further to this.
Rom 4:4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.
Paul reasons here that those who work for salvation cannot have grace. Thus how can they be saved being that salvation is through Grace? They cannot nor can they work for it.
Rom 4:5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
Righteousness comes thorough Faith in the one who promised it.
Rom 4:6 Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,
Rom 4:7 Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.
Rom 4:8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.
notice these words, God imputeth righteousness without works. that word impute means to assign or attribute a characteristic to someone or something. in this case Gods righteousness His perfect Character is attributed to us without our works. praise God for this wonderful Gift.
How does this happen? verse 7 says that our sins are forgiven and covered, covered with what? we were just told, the righteousness of Jesus covers our sins. it is His death and His life that is imputed to us and covers our sins. God forever be praised. so in light of this, God does not impute our sins to us. Praise God for his mercy.
Rom 4:9 Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness.
Rom 4:10 How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision.
Rom 4:11 And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also:
Notice that Abraham even though he was considered righteous for believing God. he still had works of circumcision that came afterward. This was the seal of the righteousness which came by faith.
Abraham received the seal of God because of the works that followed his faith.
Eph 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
notice that first we hear the word of truth/gospel, then we believe/faith after which we are sealed by the spirit of promise. Remember the Gentiles obeyed the law because of the spirit in their hearts. So law keeping is the result of salvation.
Did God give Israel the law first or save them from slavery first? Did He not free them from Egypt and baptize them through the sea first. Only then where they given the law. Salvation comes first the law is the fruit of salvation.
Rom 4:12 And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised.
Rom 4:13 For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.
Rom 4:14 For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect:
Rom 4:15 Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.
Paul now reasons that Abraham received this righteousness promise before circumcision. This promise did not come through the law but by faith in God. He goes on to reason that if the law could give righteousness then why would we need faith. The very fact that we need faith shows that righteousness does not come from the law.
Listen to Paul's point for saying this.
Rom 4:16 Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,
Interesting Paul says hear that the Gentiles are like Abraham. remember chapter 2 it was the gentiles who did not have the law. yet Paul told us that they had the law by the spirit on their hearts. they are like Abraham. So the promise is not only to those who have the law/Jews but also those of faith/gentiles.
Rom 4:17 (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.
Righteousness only comes by faith in the grace of God in his promise. Abraham had faith and thus was credited to him the righteousness of Jesus whom had not yet come. yet Abraham believed and thus accepted that which was not as if it were. and became the Father of both the Jews and the Gentiles. all who believe and have faith in Jesus.
Rom 4:18 Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.
Rom 4:19 And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara's womb:
Rom 4:20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;
Rom 4:21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.
Rom 4:22 And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.
Abraham believed and thus he received the righteousness of Jesus. Before Jesus had come.
Notice these words:
Gen 26:5 Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.
Now Abraham obeyed Gods commandments and laws. how?
same way as the gentiles. though they did not have the law, they still kept it because by faith the Spirit wrote the law on their hearts. righteousness without the law. are you starting to grasp what righteousness without the law means. it does not mean we don't have to obey. It just means that the law is not on stone or separated from us. but rather it is on our hearts and becomes our nature.
now Paul will move this to us.
Rom 4:23 Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him;
Rom 4:24 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;
Rom 4:25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.
We may have this same righteousness imputed to us, all we have to do is believe the promise in Jesus. this is our justification. same way Abraham God it. You may be seeing some things come to light in Galatians as we study this.
Paul is clear that we cannot earn our justification. We cannot work to earn it, we cannot even help. Our job is to believe and accept. it is a gift of God and totally free. just accept it.
Blessings.