Romans 4:1-8

Abraham’s faith

¹ What then shall we say was gained by Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh? ² For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. ³ For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.” ⁴ Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. ⁵ And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness, ⁶ just as David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works: ⁷ Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; ⁸ blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin.” – Romans 4:1-8 ESV

Verses 1-3 – ¹What then shall we say was gained by Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh? ²For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. ³For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.”

Paul wanted to teach about faith. And he wanted to prove that his message about faith was not a new message. So he explained how the Old Testament taught the same message about faith. Paul chose Abraham and David in order to show faith in the Old Testament.

Why do you think Paul picked Abraham and David?

Abraham began the Jewish nation. David was the most famous king of the Jews. Paul wanted to show that they received righteousness because of faith, and not because of their good deeds.

Abraham was called the ‘friend of God’ (Isaiah 41:8). He was a righteous man (Isaiah 51:1-2). He might have been able to boast to other people. But he could not boast to God his Creator. God did not accept Abraham because of Abraham’s good works. God accepted Abraham because Abraham believed God. In other words, Abraham had faith.

Abraham believed God’s promise that he would have a son. He would have more descendants than there are stars in the sky. Abraham had faith that God would make this happen. He had faith although he was an old man. His wife Sarah was old too. She was far beyond the age when women have children. God accepted Abraham’s faith and God considered him righteous (Genesis 15:6).

Verses 4-5 – ⁴Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. ⁵And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness,

A person who works receives wages. That person has earned those wages. But a person cannot earn a right relationship with God. Righteousness is a free gift from God. A person receives it because of faith. That person used to be a sinner. But, because of God’s great love, God has changed that person’s life.

Verses 6-8  ⁶just as David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works: ⁷Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; ⁸blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin.”

Paul is referencing Psalm 32. Let’s read that together.

David describes the person who has real joy. This person knows that God has forgiven him. He has not obeyed God’s laws. He has failed to reach God’s standards. But then God made that person righteous.

Jesus told a story about a tax-collector in Luke chapter 18. That tax-collector asked God for mercy (Luke 18:13-14). The tax-collector was humble and he was sincere. He put his trust in God. God does not accuse such a person because of his sins. Instead, God considers him righteous.

Romans 4:9-12

Father to all who have faith

⁹Is this blessing then only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? For we say that faith was counted to Abraham as righteousness. ¹⁰How then was it counted to him? Was it before or after he had been circumcised? It was not after, but before he was circumcised. ¹¹He received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. The purpose was to make him the father of all who believe without being circumcised, so that righteousness would be counted to them as well, ¹²and to make him the father of the circumcised who are not merely circumcised but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised. – Romans 4:9-12

Verses 9-11 ⁹Is this blessing then only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? For we say that faith was counted to Abraham as righteousness. ¹⁰How then was it counted to him? Was it before or after he had been circumcised? It was not after, but before he was circumcised. ¹¹He received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. The purpose was to make him the father of all who believe without being circumcised, so that righteousness would be counted to them as well,

Jews believed that a man needed to be circumcised. They did not consider anyone a real Jew without circumcision. A Gentile might believe the Jewish religion. But he could not be a proper member of the Jewish faith without circumcision. Paul reminded them that God declared Abraham righteous before he was circumcised. This matter caused a very serious argument in the first churches. Many Jewish Christians insisted that Gentiles had to be circumcised in order to become real Christians. Paul dealt with this problem in his letter to the Galatians and we can even remember where Paul had Timothy circumcised, but it was not to approve him as righteious, but to allow those he was ministering to be reached. Paul knew that it would be a stumbling block to those they were reaching, not a stumbling block to Timothy.

Do you know how old Abraham was when he was circumcised? Who circumcised him?

God considered Abraham righteous (Genesis 15:6-21) before he received circumcision (Genesis 17:10).

His genuine faith in God began 14 years before the sign of circumcision. Circumcision was the proof of the *covenant that Abraham had already made with God.

Verses 11-12 ¹¹He received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. The purpose was to make him the father of all who believe without being circumcised, so that righteousness would be counted to them as well, ¹²and to make him the father of the circumcised who are not merely circumcised but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.

True descendants of Abraham are those who trust God in the same way as Abraham. Whether they are circumcised or not makes no difference. ‘In Christ, neither circumcision nor uncircumcision matters’ (Galatians 5:6). Abraham is the father of Gentiles who believe. He is also the father of Jews who believe. Circumcision separated Jews from other people.

Faith unites Jews and Gentiles who trust in Christ, just as it unites all of us! We are not united in Christ because we go to the same church, many of us in our group don’t. The commonality is that we each have faith in the one and only savior, Christ.  Do you ever go to concerts or conferences and feel that? Do you feel the connection to the people, even when you don’t know them?

Romans 4:13-17

God’s grace

¹³For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith. ¹⁴ For if it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void. ¹⁵ For the law brings wrath, but where there is no law there is no transgression. ¹⁶ That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his offspring–not only to the adherent of the law but also to the one who shares the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all, ¹⁷ as it is written, “I have made you the father of many nations” –in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist. – Romans 4:13-17

Verse 13 ¹³For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith.

The Greek word for ‘promise’ means a promise that someone makes because of love. So there must be no demand to give a promise back.

Do you remember some of the promises that God gave to Abraham?

God promised to Abraham that by Abraham all the people on earth would receive blessing (Genesis 12:3). God also promised that Abraham would have more descendants than stars in the sky. But God’s promises did not depend on law. God did not give the law until 430 years later.

¹⁷ This is what I mean: the law, which came 430 years afterward, does not annul a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to make the promise void. – Galatians 3:17 ESV

Abraham accepted God’s promises by faith. That is, Abraham trusted God (Hebrews 11:8-12).

Verse 14 ¹⁴ For if it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void.

One must not add to God’s promise what the law orders. This would cancel the promise. Nobody can obey the law perfectly. So if the promise depended on the law, God could not carry out his promises. Faith would no longer have any value. It would be about earn it. Or in reality about in losing it. Knowing how we are we would probably create a Hall of Faith, where it pointed out how long someone actually followed the law. I could see where they might even create busts of the men that were inspirational. Then in a sense, would create idols and worship individuals that could not benefit us.

Verse 15 ¹⁵ For the law brings wrath, but where there is no law there is no transgression.

The result of law is punishment, because people do not obey the law. So people could not receive the benefit of God’s promise by means of the law. People must receive this benefit by faith. And they can only receive it because of God’s kindness (his *grace).  Have you ever realized that you did not get safer when you got a speeding ticket? You actually are safer when you don’t break the speed limit. The law is intended to keep you safe. Just like our Ten Commandments are not to point out all we have done wrong, but help us with our relationship with God.

Verse 16  ¹⁶ That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his offspring–not only to the adherent of the law but also to the one who shares the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all,

The promise comes from God’s grace. Abraham and his descendants can be sure about God’s gift. This is because they can accept it by faith. The promise is for anyone who has the same faith as Abraham. It is for Jews and for those who never had the law. So Abraham became the father of those with faith. Paul showed that the promise came true by means of Jesus Christ. By faith, people all over the world receive God’s love. He cares about them. The law would say that they are guilty. But people can become righteous by faith in God. God forgives them because of his great love.

Verse 17  ¹⁷ as it is written, “I have made you the father of many nations” –in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist.

The change of Abram’s name was a sign that God had made a covenant with him. ‘Abraham’ means father of many nations’ (Genesis 17:5). Abraham’s God can bring life to dead people. Here Paul is thinking especially about the promise of a son to Abraham. Abraham was so old that his body seemed ‘almost dead’ (Romans 4:19; Hebrews 11:11-12). But God is the powerful God who created the world from nothing. So it would be no problem for God to create many descendants for Abraham, even when he did not even have one child.

Romans 4:18-25

Faith of Abraham

¹⁷ This is what I mean: the law, which came 430 years afterward, does not annul a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to make the promise void. ¹⁸ For if the inheritance comes by the law, it no longer comes by promise; but God gave it to Abraham by a promise. ¹⁹ Why then the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring should come to whom the promise had been made, and it was put in place through angels by an intermediary. ²⁰ Now an intermediary implies more than one, but God is one. ²¹ Is the law then contrary to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would indeed be by the law. ²² But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.²³ Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. ²⁴ So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. ²⁵ But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, – Romans 4:18-25

Verses 18-21 ¹⁸ For if the inheritance comes by the law, it no longer comes by promise; but God gave it to Abraham by a promise. ¹⁹ Why then the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring should come to whom the promise had been made, and it was put in place through angels by an intermediary. ²⁰ Now an intermediary implies more than one, but God is one. ²¹ Is the law then contrary to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would indeed be by the law.

From a human point of view, it was impossible for Abraham to have children. Both he and his wife Sarah were much too old. But Abraham believed in God’s power. He did not lose hope that God would carry out his promise. Instead, Abraham’s faith increased. He trusted God’s promise. He was sure that God would carry it out.

Have you had an experience where God has given you something through your faith, and it actually increased your belief and desire to know God more?

Verses 22-24 ²² But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.²³ Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. ²⁴ So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith.

It was not only Abraham whom God would consider righteous. We believe that God raised Jesus from death. So God considers us righteous too. Jesus becomes our Lord.

Verse 25 ²⁵ But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian,

The priests and Judas handed over Jesus to Pilate. The Romans then killed Jesus on a cross. These men thought that they had control over these events. But in fact, these events were part of God’s plan to ‘hand over’ Jesus. God ‘did not keep back (rescue) his own son, but he gave him up for us all’ (Romans 8:32). Jesus’ death was a sacrifice to cancel the effect of human sin. The last sacrifice. God accepted his sacrifice and raised him from death. So if we believe in the death and resurrection of Jesus, God considers us at peace with himself. He considers us as righteous.

You may from time to time feel unworthy of God’s favor, which is true. That is what makes His grace so sweet.

Romans 4:26-25

You’re in the family!

²⁶ for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. ²⁷ For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. ²⁸ There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. ²⁹ And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise. – Romans 4:26-29

In closing chapter 4, Paul wraps the message up with the conclusion that we are all one family if we have put our faith in Christ and are given over to him and him alone.  We are adopted into the royal priesthood. Our father is the King.

¹⁴ For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. ¹⁵ For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” ¹⁶ The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, ¹⁷ and if children, then heirs–heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. – Romans 8:14-17