Romans 4
25 verses
Abraham becomes the prototype of justification by faith: his faith was reckoned to him as righteousness, and this occurred before his circumcision, making him father of all who believe, whether circumcised or not. Paul draws upon the Old Testament itself—Genesis 15:6 for Abraham's faith, and Psalm 32 for David's pronouncement of blessing upon the man whose iniquities are forgiven and whose sins are covered, a blessing bestowed not through works but through divine reckoning. The promise to Abraham and his seed came through the righteousness of faith, not through the law; indeed, if inheritance comes by the law, faith is nullified and the promise voided—grace and law are presented as mutually exclusive soteriological instruments. Abraham's faith is exemplified in his bodily deadness and Sarah's barrenness—circumstances against hope where hope nonetheless believed, against hope he trusted, glorifying God by acknowledging God's power to do the impossible and God's faithfulness to the promise. He did not waver in unbelief but gave glory to God and was fully convinced that what God had promised, God was able to perform—this trust was credited to him as righteousness, and Paul insists this accounting is written not for Abraham alone but also for us who believe in the God who raised Jesus our Lord, who was handed over to death for our trespasses and raised for our justification.
VERSES IN THIS CHAPTER
1
What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?
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The early church would have heard this very differently than we do today. This connects directly to the promise made to ...
2
For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.
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3
For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
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4
Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.
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5
But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
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6
Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,
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7
Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.
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8
Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.
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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.
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10
How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision.
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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:
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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.
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God is faithful in every circumstance.. God is faithful in every circumstance.. Faith isn't the absence of doubt — it's ...
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.
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14
For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect:
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15
Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.
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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,
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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.
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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.
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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:
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We bring nothing; He provides everything.. God is faithful in every circumstance.. It implies covenant loyalty, steadfas...
20
He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;
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21
And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.
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22
And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.
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23
Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him;
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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;
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25
Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.
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