Romans 4 - The Faith of Abraham
Justification by Faith as Exemplified by Abraham's Righteousness
Romans 4
Justification by Faith Evidenced in Old Testament
What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, has found?
For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God.
For what does the Scripture say? "ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS."
Now to the one who works, his wage is not credited as a favor, but as what is due.
But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness,
just as David also speaks of the blessing on the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:
"BLESSED ARE THOSE WHOSE LAWLESS DEEDS HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN, AND WHOSE SINS HAVE BEEN COVERED.
"BLESSED IS THE MAN WHOSE SIN THE LORD WILL NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT."
Is this blessing then on the circumcised, or on the uncircumcised also? For we say, "FAITH WAS CREDITED TO ABRAHAM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS."
How then was it credited? While he was circumcised, or uncircumcised? Not while circumcised, but while uncircumcised;
and he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while uncircumcised, so that he might be the father of all who believe without being circumcised, that righteousness might be credited to them,
and the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also follow in the steps of the faith of our father Abraham which he had while uncircumcised.
For the promise to Abraham or to his descendants that he would be heir of the world was not through the Law, but through the righteousness of faith.
For if those who are of the Law are heirs, faith is made void and the promise is nullified;
for the Law brings about wrath, but where there is no law, there also is no violation.
For this reason it is by faith, in order that it may be in accordance with grace, so that the promise will be guaranteed to all the descendants, not only to those who are of the Law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all,
(as it is written, "A FATHER OF MANY NATIONS HAVE I MADE YOU") in the presence of Him whom he believed, even God, who gives life to the dead and calls into being that which does not exist.
In hope against hope he believed, so that he might become a father of many nations according to that which had been spoken, "SO SHALL YOUR DESCENDANTS BE."
Without becoming weak in faith he contemplated his own body, now as good as dead since he was about a hundred years old, and the deadness of Sarah's womb;
yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God,
and being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able also to perform.
Therefore IT WAS ALSO CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS.
Now not for his sake only was it written that it was credited to him,
but for our sake also, to whom it will be credited, as those who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead,
He who was delivered over because of our transgressions, and was raised because of our justification.
Three Questions
How does Romans 4 define righteousness and its relationship to faith?
What is the significance of Abraham's faith in the context of Roman's 4?
How does Romans 4 contrast faith with works and adherence to the law?
Question 1 - How does Romans 4 define righteousness and its relationship to faith?
Righteousness in Romans 4 is defined as a gift from God that is received through faith, not earned through works. This is illustrated through the example of Abraham, whose faith was "credited to him as righteousness." The text emphasizes that Abraham's righteousness was not a result of his actions but rather his belief in God.
Here are some key points about righteousness and its relationship to faith in Romans 4:
Righteousness is not earned through works: If Abraham had been justified by his works, he would have had reason to boast, but this was not the case in the sight of God.
Righteousness is credited to those who believe in God: Abraham believed God, and this faith was credited to him as righteousness. This applies to both the circumcised and uncircumcised.
Faith is a gift that makes righteousness possible: The promise of inheriting the world was not given to Abraham through the law but through the righteousness that comes from faith. If righteousness were based on adhering to the law, then faith would be meaningless and the promise void.
The law produces wrath, but faith brings justification: The purpose of faith is to make righteousness a gift, guaranteeing the promise to all of Abraham's descendants, not just those who follow the law.
Abraham's faith is an example for believers: Abraham's unwavering faith in God's promise, even when faced with seemingly impossible circumstances, is presented as a model for all believers. His faith was so strong that it was credited to him as righteousness. This righteousness is also credited to those who believe in Jesus Christ, who was raised from the dead for our justification.
Romans 4 presents righteousness as a gift from God that is received through faith in Jesus Christ, not through works of the law. Abraham's faith is presented as an example of how righteousness is credited to those who believe, even in the face of challenging circumstances.
Question 2 - What is the significance of Abraham's faith in the context of Roman's 4?
Here is an analysis of the significance of Abraham's faith in the context of Romans 4:
Paul, the author of Romans, uses Abraham as an example to illustrate his point about justification by faith, not by works.
This is a crucial point in Paul's letter, where he argues that salvation is a gift from God received through faith in Jesus Christ, not through following the Jewish law.
Paul highlights that Abraham was declared righteous by God because of his faith, even before he was circumcised.
This demonstrates that justification comes from faith, not from adherence to the law, like circumcision.
Paul emphasizes that the promise to Abraham of inheriting the world was based on righteousness that comes from faith, not from the law.
If inheritance depended on the law, then faith would be irrelevant and the promise would be void.
Paul points out that the law actually produces wrath, highlighting the contrast between law and faith.
He concludes that the promise is guaranteed to all of Abraham's descendants, not just those who follow the law, but those who have faith like Abraham.
Paul describes Abraham's faith in detail, emphasizing that he believed God's promise even when it seemed impossible.
Abraham believed that he would become the father of many nations, despite his old age and Sarah's barrenness.
He did not doubt God's promise but was strengthened by faith and gave glory to God.
Abraham's unwavering faith, even in the face of seemingly insurmountable obstacles, is held up as an example for all believers.
Paul connects Abraham's faith to the faith of Christians, stating that righteousness will be credited to those who believe in the one who raised Jesus from the dead.
Just as Abraham's faith was credited to him as righteousness, so too is the faith of believers in Christ credited to them as righteousness.
Romans 4 presents Abraham's faith as the ultimate example of justification by faith, emphasizing that salvation is a gift from God received through faith in Jesus Christ, not through works of the law. Abraham's unwavering trust in God's promise, even when it seemed impossible, serves as a model for all believers and underscores the power and importance of faith in the Christian life.
Question 3 - How does Romans 4 contrast faith with works and adherence to the law?
Faith Versus Works and Adherence to the Law
Romans 4 contrasts faith with works and adherence to the law to emphasize that righteousness comes from faith in God, not from human effort or obedience to the law.
The chapter begins by examining the example of Abraham, considered the father of faith in the Jewish tradition. It states that Abraham was not justified by his works but by his faith in God.
If Abraham had been justified by works, he would have had reason to boast, but this was not the case in God's eyes.
Scripture says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness."
This righteousness is described as a gift, not something earned through works.
Romans 4 further emphasizes this point by comparing earning a wage with receiving a gift.
A worker's wage is earned, but a gift is freely given.
In the same way, righteousness is not earned through works, but it is freely given to those who believe in God.
The chapter then extends this concept to all believers, both Jewish and Gentile.
It states that the blessing of righteousness is not limited to those who are circumcised (Jews) but is also available to the uncircumcised (Gentiles).
This is because righteousness is credited through faith, not through adherence to the law, as demonstrated by Abraham's example.
Romans 4 goes on to explain that the promise of inheriting the world was given to Abraham and his descendants through faith, not through the law.
If the inheritance were based on adhering to the law, faith would be meaningless, and the promise would be void.
The law, in fact, produces wrath because it exposes human sinfulness.
However, where there is no law, there is no transgression.
Therefore, the promise is guaranteed to all of Abraham's descendants, both those who adhere to the law and those who do not, based on their faith.
The chapter concludes by highlighting Abraham's unwavering faith in God's promise.
Despite his old age and Sarah's barrenness, he did not waver in his belief that God would fulfill His promise.
This unwavering faith is what God credited to him as righteousness.
This same righteousness is also credited to those who believe in Jesus Christ, who was raised from the dead.
Just as Abraham's faith was credited to him as righteousness, so too is the faith of those who believe in Jesus credited to them as righteousness.
Romans 4 establishes a clear distinction between faith and works, emphasizing that true righteousness comes from faith in God's grace, not from human effort or strict adherence to the law.
Today’s Action
One action you can take to apply the teachings of Romans 4 is to strengthen your faith through trust:
Trust in Promises: Identify an area in your life where you need to rely more on faith rather than your own efforts. Consciously choose to trust in God's promises and timing, much like Abraham did.
This action aligns with the message of Romans 4:20-21, which describes how Abraham did not waver through unbelief but was strengthened in his faith, being fully persuaded that God had the power to do what He had promised.
Check out this podcast as the hosts dive deeply into the topic.