Introduction
“What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, discovered in this matter? If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about—but not before God. What does Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” Now to the one who works, wages are not credited as a gift but as an obligation. However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness. David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the one to whom God credits righteousness apart from works: “Blessed are those whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord will never count against them.” Romans 4:1-8
Abraham Justified by Faith
How was Abraham ‘saved’, i.e. declared righteous? Not by works, Romans 4:1-8 / Romans 4:2. Not by ceremonies like circumcision, Romans 4:9-12 / Romans 4:10. Not by law-keeping, Romans 4:13-25 / Romans 4:13
The word ‘Hebrews’ relates to the origin of the race, Abraham. The word ‘Hebrew’ means ‘a crossing over’. Abraham crossed from Mesopotamia to Jordan, Genesis 11:31. In other words, Abram the Hebrew, the man who crossed over the Euphrates River.
The word ‘Israelites’ comes from Jacob whose name was changed to Israel, Genesis 32:28. God’s people were first called ‘Jews’ after their captivity, Ezra 4:23. Moses was the father of their religion whilst Abraham was the father of their race, Genesis 14:13 / Genesis 15:7.
Genesis 15:14-16 lists the sins of the Amorites. Notice that Israel’s Father was an Amorite which refers to Abraham and mother was a Hittite refers to Sarah, Ezekiel 16:3 / Ezekiel 16:45. Abraham wasn’t a Jew, he was an Amorite.
Paul wants to prove what righteousness means, Romans 3:31. God’s righteousness is higher and never changes. The righteousness of God means God is the standard of righteousness.
And so Paul gives the example of Abraham. He is answering the Jew who would be thinking that Abraham earned his justification. Paul showed in Romans 3:21-26, that law by itself will not justify. The only way law would justify is when one keeps it perfectly, Romans 3:27-31 / Galatians 5:3 / James 2:10.
The same is true of works, works, that is, works alone, justify only when one does all of the works perfectly and commits no sin. Of course, no one measures up to this and is thus in need of a Saviour.
Notice the words, ‘according to the flesh’, Romans 4:1. The arrangement of the phrases in the original Greek are as follows, ‘Abraham our father by flesh.’ Paul is simply asking, ‘what has Abraham our father according to the flesh found regarding justification?’ Romans 4:1.
Notice, ‘Abraham was justified by works’, Romans 4:2. This means the only way for one to be justified by works, apart from faith, is by working perfectly.
‘Has something to boast about’ Romans 4:2, means he could boast because he obtained it himself, and not by God’s grace. Paul has already shown that under the system of faith, every reason for human boasting is excluded, Romans 3:23 / Romans 3:27.
‘But not before God’ Romans 4:2, means under the system of faith, all glory belongs to God, ‘Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness’, Romans 4:3, is a reference to Genesis 15:6.
How was Abraham justified ‘without works’ according to Paul, and ‘by works’ according to James? The works that Paul speaks of are works that ‘make faith void’, in other words, ‘works alone without faith.’
Paul is showing that works alone will not justify, Galatians 3:6-10, and James is showing that faith alone will not justify, James 2:23-24. Paul included walking in the steps of faith that Abraham had.
Romans 4:4 tells us the only way for one to be justified by works alone is by doing works perfectly. If he did works perfectly, justification would be owed to him as a debt. ‘Does not work’, Romans 4:5, means ‘to him who does not work perfectly.’ Man cannot be righteous, justified by law or works alone.
Murray, in his commentary, says the following.
‘The antithesis is not simply between the worker and the non-worker but between the worker and person who does not work but believes.’
The words, ‘his faith is credited’, Romans 4:5, shows the blessing of being justified by faith. One is saved although his works are not perfect. Paul is simply revealing ‘justification by faith’ as opposed to ‘justifications by works’ or ‘justification by law.’
‘David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the one to whom God credits righteousness apart from works’, Romans 4:6. Faith is the thing counted, justification is the end for which it is counted.
‘Apart from works’, Romans 4:6, means apart from or without perfect works. Under the Gospel system, we can be justified even though we have sinned. What could David have done to make up for his adultery and murder? Micah 6:7-8. He was truly blessed when he was forgiven.
Lenski, in his commentary, says the following.
‘No sinner, and try he ever so hard, can possibly carry his own sins away and come back cleansed of guilt. No amount of money, no science, no inventive skill, no armies of millions, nor any other earthly power can carry away from the sinner one little sin and its guilt. Once it is committed, every sin and its guilt cling to the sinner as close as does his own shadow, cling to all eternity unless God carries them away.’
Romans 4:7-8 are a quote from Psalm 32:1-2. The person to whom God counts justification without works is the person whose iniquities are forgiven.
Forgiveness does not result from human works, but from grace. He is forgiven even though his works are not perfect. Hence, to count justification without deeds is to forgive without perfect obedience.
God counts sin to the sinner so long as he is a sinner, but when forgiven, they are not counted, the forgiven sinner is righteous, Romans 4:7-8. Our justification is not by our own righteousness, our works, but by the death of Christ.
His death counts for our death, and we are righteous because of what He did for us, and not because of what we have done for ourselves. This is how God imputes righteousness to the sinner.
In other words, God places the sinner in right standing with Him through means of the sacrificial death of Christ, Philippians 3:7-9. God sees us as righteous. God says your right, right in all aspects, speaking and doing.
Believing puts you in the right place where God can save you, John 1:11-12. When you believe, you have the right to take the step to become a child of God. Righteous of God through faith.
Remember what Paul has already said on this matter in Romans 1:14-17.
1. I’m a debtor to Jew and Gentiles.
2. Not ashamed of the Gospel.
3. I’m ready. Righteousness means rightness, being right with God. The righteousness of Christ means clothed with Christ.
Let me share a useful summary of Romans 4:1-8.
Righteousness is not given on the basis of works, works alone, meritorious works, but on the basis of faith, a faith that takes God at His Word and follows it as did Abraham. If one can earn his salvation by works, he would have no need for Christ.
This does not mean that we have no obligation in our salvation, before becoming a Christian or after. The death of Christ substitutes for the sinner’s death only when the sinner accepts and obeys Him as Lord, Romans 6:16-18 / Hebrews 5:8-9.
While salvation cannot be on the basis of a debt paid for perfect service rendered, this in no way changes the fact that Gospel obedience is mandatory in God’s scheme of redemption. Works of obedience, that is, our duty as commanded by God, are therefore not under consideration here.
It is the works apart from faith, works of merit, works alone, that are excluded. Justification, i.e., salvation, is always viewed in the Bible as a matter of favour, never a matter of debt, Luke 17:10. We need to do our best, and then cast ourselves on the mercy and grace of God.
“Is this blessedness only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? We have been saying that Abraham’s faith was credited to him as righteousness. Under what circumstances was it credited? Was it after he was circumcised, or before? It was not after, but before! And he received circumcision as a sign, a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. So then, he is the father of all who believe but have not been circumcised, in order that righteousness might be credited to them. And he is then also the father of the circumcised who not only are circumcised but who also follow in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.” Romans 4:9-12
A reminder of what I wrote earlier would be useful here. How was Abraham ‘saved’, i.e. declared righteous? Not by works, Romans 4:1-8 / Romans 4:2. Not by ceremonies, circumcision, Romans 4:9-12 / Romans 4:10. Not by law-keeping, Romans 4:13-25 / Romans 4:13.
Why was Abraham righteous? Because he was circumcised? No. When did he become righteous? Abraham didn’t become righteous until God made the covenant with him, Genesis 15.
Abraham wasn’t righteous because of the law because that came later. Abraham was righteous on the basis of faith not by works. Abraham believed Isaac would be raised from the dead and so he was the first person to believe in the resurrection, Hebrews 11:19. Lot and Abraham went their separate ways, Lot choose badly whilst Abraham let God choose, Genesis 13.
In Romans 4:9-12, Paul now shows that this blessedness, that is, justification by faith, is not confined to the Jews only.
Notice Paul says, ‘for we have been saying that faith,’ Romans 4:9, this is the same as Romans 4:3. At what period in Abraham’s life was it accounted to him? Genesis 12:4 tells us that he was 75 years old when he was called. Sometime thereafter, the statement was made.
Genesis 15:6, tells us it was before Ishmael was born. And Genesis 17:24, tells us that he was 99 years old when he was circumcised. Ishmael was 13 years old at that time. Genesis 17:25.
We have the account of the call of Abraham in Genesis 15:6, which says, ‘Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness.’ Romans 4:10.
Note that his call came 13 years before his circumcision, Romans 4:10 / Genesis 17:24. Circumcision was not that which brought justification circumcision was only a seal or sign of it, Romans 4:11.
‘That he might be the father of all those who believe’, Romans 4:11, as we know this was a special honour. He was the first to be justified this way. ‘Though they are uncircumcised’ Romans 4:11, referring to the Gentiles.
‘Righteousness might be credited to them’, Romans 4:11, means if Abraham was counted righteous by his faith before circumcision, that is, before it was commanded, Gentiles could also even though it was never commanded of them.
Abraham is the father, not to those who are merely circumcised, but to those who also walk in the steps of his faith, Romans 4:12. His fatherhood extends beyond the circumcision to all who imitate his faith.
Spurgeon, in his commentary, says the following.
‘All true believers, like Abraham, obey. Obedience is faith in action. You are to walk in the steps of the faith of father Abraham. His faith did not sit still, it took steps; and you must take these steps also by obeying God because you believe him. That faith which has no works with it is a dead faith, and will justify no one.’
Are We Saved By Faith Alone?
In Romans 4:11, we read that Abraham was justified by faith before circumcision. Paul refers to Abraham’s justification while still in uncircumcision to prove, as the context of the passage shows, that the justification had nothing whatsoever to do with the works of the law of Moses since the Mosaic law had not then been given, Romans 4:13.
We have to keep in mind the imagined conflict between what Paul says about Abraham and what James says about Abraham in James 2:21-24.
Paul is writing to the Romans to off-set the influence of Judaizing teachers who were telling the Gentile Christians that unless they were circumcised and observed the law of Moses they could not be saved, Acts 15:1.
Paul is arguing that Abraham was justified before and without circumcision because of the faith he had manifested, and so today, Paul says, God will justify all those who walk in the steps of the faith that Abraham had while still in uncircumcision, Romans 4:12.
Notice that Abraham was not saved by FAITH ALONE because Paul says he walked IN THE STEPS OF FAITH, Romans 4:12. The faith of Abraham took certain steps.
This was faith going in a certain direction, it was faith that was active. It was faith doing something and this is precisely what James sets out to prove, when he says, ‘was not our father Abraham justified by works,’ James 2:19. What does he mean?
He is not talking about works of merit, we cannot be saved by any works of merit of our own, but he’s speaking of the kind of faith that manifests itself in obedience to the will of God. James says if our faith is faith alone, it is a dead faith, James 2:17. Faith alone is a barren faith.
He says that faith that is without works is incomplete faith, James 2:22. He says that by the works is the faith made perfect or complete.
Now some argue in favour of salvation by faith alone, while James says emphatically it is not by faith alone. There’s no conflict between the apostle Paul and James when they discuss Abraham as you understand when you grasp this fact.
Paul’s argument is directed against the works of the law of Moses while he declares that Abraham’s faith was an active faith. James is arguing against salvation by faith alone and saying that faith can never truly be alone if it is the right kind of faith but will show itself in what it does.
Abraham’s Seed
How do we become Abraham’s seed? I think we will find the answer to that question in Galatians beginning at Galatians 3:26, ‘so in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith’. That is the case of location. ‘For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ,’ Galatians 3:27.
Notice Galatians 3:29, ‘If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise’. How do you become the children of Abraham? By becoming a child of God by faith and that is when we are in Christ Jesus.
Paul does say in Acts 10:43, ‘All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.’
Notice however, the expression is that it is ‘through his name every one that believeth on him.’ ASV. That is why in Acts 10:48, of that same passage Peter commanded them to be baptised in the name of Jesus Christ.
Notice the expression, ‘in the name of Jesus Christ’, Acts 10:48. Peter has used that once before back in Acts 2:38, and there, baptism in the name of Jesus Christ is said to be FOR the forgiveness of sins. Here is the same preacher, with the same message, with the same command expressing the same purpose.
Is A Believer Justified The Moment They Believe?
There are some people who suggest that because they are a believer, then they are justified. A few people often quote Jesus’ words in John 3:36, ‘Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life’, to justify that people are saved at the point of belief.
However, we need to finish the sentence, because Jesus goes on to say, ‘but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.’
The word reject is the Greek word ‘apeitheo’ and it is found 16 times in the Greek New Testament. In the King James Version it was rendered, ‘Believe not’ but in all 16 instances the revision has it ‘obeyeth not’.
That’s why in 2 Thessalonians 1:7-8 we read, that Christ will come ‘in blazing fire with his powerful angels. He will punish those who do not know God and DO NOT OBEY the gospel of our Lord Jesus’.
Look at the believers in John 12:42, ‘any even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not openly acknowledge their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue’.
Some suggest that because these men believed on Jesus, they were therefore justified and saved. Presumably since repentance comes before faith they had already repented.
They had repented, they had believed on Jesus but nevertheless the Lord Jesus Christ will not confess them before the Father in heaven for the simple reason that in Matthew 10:33, Jesus says, ‘But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven.’
Or again Romans 10:10 says, ‘For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.’
So, in John 12:42, we have repentant believers, believers in Christ who are apparently are saved according by faith alone, yet the Lord Jesus Christ will not confess them on the day when He stands before the Father in heaven, Matthew 10:33.
In John 8:30-31, we have certain people who believed on Jesus in that passage. Notice in John 8:33, Jesus is talking about them and in John 8:39, we read the same believing Jews are told ‘If God were your father’. John 8:42.
He says later ‘You belong to your father, the devil’, John 8:44, and according to John 8:30-31, these were believing Jews, Jews who believed on Him.
Question
What kind of faith do the demons have according to James 2:19?
What is the distinction between faith?
How do we decide when one faith is saving faith, and the other faith is inadequate to save us?
Is it possible that there is a kind of faith that saves and a faith that doesn’t save?
Notice what James says, ‘In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.’ James 2:17. ‘Faith without deeds is useless’. James 2:20. He says in James 2:26, ‘As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.’
Now faith that is alone, without works, is dead. And James very appropriately asks the question, “Can that faith save him”? James 2:14.
Faith Is Seen
Faith that saves is never alone, the faith that saves is seen, Luke 5:20. Is faith a tangible thing, a visible thing, a material thing that we can see? Of course not.
We see faith in the things that we do. You can’t see my thoughts, pr other people’s thought but you see their faith expressed in action.
Faith Is Obedient
Again, faith that saves is the faith that obeys. In Romans 1:5, the apostle Paul speaks about his apostleship, ‘To the obedience that comes from faith for his name’s sake.’
His job was to lead people to render the obedience of faith and it was certainly with a view to salvation.
Again, we are told that Abraham’s faith TOOK STEPS, and we are told that God saves all those who walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, Romans 4:12. And as Galatians 5:6 tells us that, ‘Faith expressing itself through love.’ It is NOT faith alone.
The apostle Paul says in 1 Corinthians 13:2, ‘If I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.’ If we are nothing, then we are certainly not saved.
He even says it is possible for man to have the gift of tongues and still be nothing if he doesn’t have love, 1 Corinthians 13:1. So something much more than faith is necessary. It has to be faith that works through love, and we know this kind of faith is never really alone.
Works Of The Law
There are three kinds of works referred to in the New Testament. There are the works of the law that Paul is speaking about in Romans 3:4.
In Romans 3:28, Paul writes, ‘For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.’ In this section of his letter, thirteen times the law is spoken of and in the Roman letter the term ‘law’ is used in seven or eight different ways. It’s true in the Galatian letter Paul says, ‘A person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ.’ Galatians 2:16.
Now why is that? Because through the law comes the knowledge of sin, Romans 3:20. The law convicted the Jew of sin, but the law could not save them, Romans 8:3-4 / Hebrews 10:1-4. The law simply could not save, Acts 15:10.
Thus, it is not by works done in righteousness which we did ourselves, but according to His mercy he saved us, Titus 3:4-5. This simply means that we do not earn salvation by our own good deeds, Ephesians 2:8-9.
We are simply not good enough. We cannot work our way into heaven. We cannot merit forgiveness, because Isaiah says, ‘All our righteousness’s are as filthy rags in the sight of the Lord’, Isaiah 64:6.
Works Of Human Righteousness
Then there is a second kind of works referred to in Titus 3:4, where the apostle Paul has the works of human righteousness, the works of human goodness in view.
He says, ‘He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy.’ Again, it means we simply cannot work our way to heaven, Ephesians 2:8-9.
Works Of Faith
Then there is a third kind of works which are necessary, and these are the works of faith, Romans 1:5. Obedient faith are not the works of the law, not the works of human goodness, but works of faith. That is faith working through love as Paul says again writing in Galatians 5:6.
In 2 Thessalonians 1:11, Paul speaks of every work of faith. Now the Lord Jesus points out that faith itself is indeed a work. In John 6 we have the Lord saying, ‘Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.’
Then they asked him, ‘What must we do to do the works God requires? Jesus answered, ‘The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.’ John 6:27-29.
Why is believing a work of God? It is simply because it is that which God has commanded. If I am employed by somebody, whose work do I do? Do I do his work, or do I do the work that he tells me to do?
Repentance
Is repentance necessary to salvation? Can one be saved who refuses to repent? Certainly not! In Acts 17:30, ‘In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.’ But where does repentance come? Before or after faith?
It’s really immaterial whether it’s repentance then faith or faith and repentance. It doesn’t really matter. It’s not repentance without faith and it’s not faith without repentance. It’s repentance plus faith so, even there our faith is not alone.
2 Corinthians 7:10 teaches us that repentance comes BEFORE salvation. Surely no one would suggest that repentance wasn’t necessary for salvation.
Repentance is joined with baptism with the same purpose in view, which is salvation, and we cannot separate the two. If people say that faith alone saves us but argue that a person needs to repent to be saved, they have just nullified the first statement. We cannot be forgiven simply by believing, we cannot be saved without also repentance and baptism.
Confession
Paul says in Romans 10:9, ‘If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’. Is confession of Christ necessary to salvation? If we say that confession of Christ is necessary to salvation, then this is not faith alone.
Remember this confession comes after faith because we do not confess Christ first and then have faith, it is impossible. We can only confess that which we believe that which we have.
So, the order evidently is, faith first and then the expression of that faith in confession. But according to Paul’s argument in Romans 10:10, your salvation is not until after confession, ‘with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.’
Conclusion
Faith is necessary for salvation, but it is the faith that works through love, Galatians 5:6. Faith becomes God’s condition of salvation and in Romans 1:16 Paul says, ‘For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes’.
It is not unconditional, faith itself is a condition of salvation. The gospel is the power of God, but it does not save everybody. It only saves those who believe.
We can work the work of God, and believe on His Son, and be saved by faith, but have you earned your salvation? Certainly not! There is no merit in faith. There is nothing in faith that makes God have to save us, nothing at all. There is no merit at all.
But faith saves because faith and baptism have both been commanded by the Lord Jesus Christ, Matthew 28:19 / Mark 16:16.
“It was not through the law that Abraham and his offspring received the promise that he would be heir of the world, but through the righteousness that comes by faith. For if those who depend on the law are heirs, faith means nothing and the promise is worthless, because the law brings wrath. And where there is no law there is no transgression.” Romans 4:13-15
Before we get into the text, once again I want to share what I shared earlier as a reminder. How was Abraham ‘saved’, i.e. declared righteous? Not by works, Romans 4:1-8, Romans 4:2. Not by ceremonies, circumcision, Romans 4:9-12 / Romans 4:10. Not by law-keeping, Romans 4:13-25 / Romans 4:13.
The promise to Abraham was righteousness through faith, independent of the Law, Romans 4:13. Abraham and his seed were to become heirs of the world through Christ. ‘His offspring’, Romans 4:13, refers to Abraham’s offspring, descendants. The spiritual blessing that they were to inherit was in and through Christ.
The words, ‘heir of the world’, Romans 4:13, has reference to the spiritual part of the promise, Genesis 12:3 / Genesis 18:18 / Genesis 22:18.
Newell, in his commentary, says the folowing.
‘Faith is the ground of God’s blessing. Abraham was a blessed man, indeed, but he became heir of the world on another principle entirely, simple faith.’
Notice the words, ‘depend on the law’, Romans 4:14. The article ‘the’ is not before ‘law’ here, but it is in Romans 4:15. The promise was not made because or in consideration of law, but consideration of justification by faith.
The Jews are under consideration in context. However, the same applies to any law. If law, any law, makes people heirs, there is no purpose for faith in Christ.
‘Faith means nothing and the promise is worthless’, Romans 4:14, means there would be no value if the blessings were already received.
The promise was made before the law was given. The law was added because of transgressions until the promised seed should come. The law was not the promise, nor was it part of the fulfilment, Galatians 3:17-19.
In Romans 4:15, the article ‘the’ is before ‘law’ here. And so, it refers to the Law of Moses. In Exodus 19 we see the prophet’s ministry began at Sinai with Moses. The people wanted Moses to speak to them, not God, Exodus 20:19.
The people didn’t keep the law, the law exposed sin and the law defined sin but the law couldn’t offer forgiveness, that’s why there is a new covenant, Matthew 26:27-28.
Jesus says this cup, new convent, the forgiveness of sins. Notice what it says, for the remission of sins not because of the remission of sins, Matthew 26:27-28.
The law works wrath both from God and within man, Romans 4:15. It works wrath from God because man violates it. It works wrath within man because it condemns rather than saves him. Once the law is violated, it knows nothing but the penalty.
In Romans 7:9-23, the great ‘I’ passage, Paul describes his condition as a sinner under law and shows how the law works wrath and brings condemnation.
Notice Paul says, ‘where there is no law there is no transgression,’ Romans 4:15. In context, Abraham could not have been judged for not keeping the Law of Moses because it had not yet been given.
The argument seems to be, that where there is no law, there is no transgression, and where there is no transgression there is no wrath, that is, no condemnation for violating the law.
We could also say, where there is law there is transgression, and where there is transgression there is wrath or condemnation. And so he is pointing man to a better system, the system of justification by faith in Christ.
Morris, in his commentary, says the following.
‘Transgression is the right word for overstepping a line, and this for breaking a clearly defined commandment.’
“Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring—not only to those who are of the law but also to those who have the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all. As it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.” He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed—the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being things that were not.” Romans 4:16-17
Abraham was saved by faith. When it is ‘by faith,’ grace is necessarily brought into play, Romans 4:16. If the inheritance depended merely on law, none could obtain it, since none obey it perfectly, Romans 3:20 / Galatians 5:3 / James 2:10. When it is by faith, it makes it a matter of grace, not of debt.
Spurgeon, in his commentary, says the following.
‘Grace and faith are congruous, and will draw together in the same chariot, but grace and merit are contrary the one to the other and pull opposite ways, and therefore God has not chosen to yoke them together.’
The word, ‘offspring’, Romans 4:16, means spiritual seed. Notice again, Paul says, ‘the law’, Romans 4:16, the article ‘the’ is before law which tells us the phrase refers to the Jews.
‘But also to those’, Romans 4:16, means both Jews and Gentiles are included. It includes all of us who have faith like Abraham. Abraham was the first to be justified by faith and so he is our father in that sense, Romans 4:16. The faith of Abraham is the faith that is counted for righteousness. It is the faith that takes God at His Word and follows His instructions.
Paul is referring particularly to believers, but Abraham was the father of many nations both physically and spiritually, Romans 4:17 / Genesis 17:4-5.
The words, ‘who gives life to the dead’, Romans 4:17, we will look at what that means when we get to Romans 4:19. Abraham knew that God could do anything, Romans 4:17.
‘And calls,’ Romans 4:17, means God spoke it as though it were already done. He spoke of those nations as existing, because He intended to bring them into existence.
“Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah’s womb was also dead. Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. This is why “it was credited to him as righteousness.” The words “it was credited to him” were written not for him alone, but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness—for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.” Romans 4:18-25
‘Against all hope’, Romans 4:18, means against adverse circumstances, against reason. The physical evidence was against hope. ‘Hope believed’, Romans 4:18, means Abraham believed in the hope of promise. He believed in God when the promise, that is, Abraham’s hope seemed impossible.
‘Just as it had been said to him’, Romans 4:18, means it rested on what God had said. ‘Your offspring be’, be what? They would be as numberless as the stars of heaven, Genesis 15:5.
‘Without weakening in his faith’, Romans 4:19, means his confidence in God’s fulfilling His promises was stronger than his view of any difficulties standing in the way.
‘His body was as good as dead’, Romans 4:19, means the fact that he was at this advanced age didn’t weaken his faith. Some who are getting old are wise enough to see that they are getting old, some are not, Hosea 7:9.
‘Sarah’s womb was also dead’, Romans 4:19, means she had no child all her life and was now past the age of childbearing. Abraham did not let adverse things affect his faith. He believed God even when it seemed against reason and nature, Romans 4:20.
God had spoken it, and that was enough for him. It was this kind of strong, unwavering, active faith that was accounted for righteousness. So it will be with us.
‘Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God’, Romans 4:20, means unbelief did not create staggering doubt. He did not decide against God’s promise through unbelief.
He had faith that God had the absolute power to carry out His promises, Romans 4:20. He did not doubt that God would accomplish what He had promised.
He ‘gave glory to God’, Romans 4:20, means he honoured God as one worthy to be believed and trusted, even when it seemed contrary to reason and nature. He believed God rather than his own human reasoning and judgment, and in so doing, glorified God.
‘It was credited to him as righteousness,’ Romans 4:22, this was said about Abraham’s faith on three occasions.
1. Genesis 15:1-6. As quoted in Romans 4:3.
2. Here, at the age of about 100. Romans 4:19-22.
3. At the offering of Isaac. James 2:23.
And so his life was a life of faith from beginning to end.
The words, ‘not written’, Romans 4:23, means it was not written to just show how Abraham benefitted. It was actually written many years after he had died.
The words, ‘but also for us’, Romans 4:24, shows the importance of studying the Old Testament, so that we, too, might be benefitted. We want our faith to be imputed for righteousness just as it was for Abraham. To believe on God who raised up Christ from the dead is to believe that Christ was raised from the dead, Romans 4:24.
Lenski, in his commentary, says the following.
‘Jesus’ resurrection always includes his sacrificial death but it brings out the all-sufficiency of his death. If death had held him, he would have failed; since he was raised from death, his sacrifice sufficed, God set his seal upon it by raising him up.’
‘He was delivered over to death’, Romans 4:25, means He was delivered up only because God allowed and wanted it, Romans 8:32.
He was delivered up for the folowing reasons.
1. Because of our sins, and
2. As an offering for our sins. Christ, by His death, paid the sin debt in full, and thus made it possible for us to be justified.
‘Raised to life for our justification’, Romans 4:25, means Christ arose to consummate this offering and so, the resurrection is an important part of the atonement, 1 Corinthians 15:3-5 / 1 Peter 3:21.
Summary of Romans 1-4
Paul has shown that the Gospel is God’s power to save, Romans 1:16-17, all have sinned and fall short of God’s glory, Romans 3:9 / Romans 3:23. It is impossible to be justified by law, meaning law apart from Christ, Romans 3:20. It is impossible to be saved by works (meaning works alone apart from Christ, Romans 4:2-8.
Abraham’s faith was accounted to him for righteousness, Romans 4:3 / Romans 4:20-22. What the Scriptures said about Abraham was not said for him alone.
We, too, can be justified by faith, Romans 4:23-25. It is truly sad that many pass up these blessings from God and continue to ‘enjoy’ their sinful life.
Paul basically asks why can’t the Gentiles be saved the same way? Not by law-keeping, not by works, not by circumcision but by faith.