Romans 4

Abraham was not justified by works  1
He is father to those of circumcision and to those without it  9
If those of the law are made heirs, where is faith  14
Abraham believed God's promises in hope  17
Righteousness is for us, too, if we believe  23


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Text Comments
.1 ¶ What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?
.2  For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.
.3  For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
.4  Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.
5  But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
.6  Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,
7  Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.
.8  Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.
  1 - What shall we say then? Paul used this clause to link from what had just been written. Also ro0601, ro0707, ro0914,30.
  2 - If Abraham ... justified ... Then his righteousness would have been a reward of his works (behavior). In fact Abraham was justified by faith.
  3 - Counted ... for righteousness See ge1506.
  5 - Worketh not Paul is describing a principle. He is not opposed to works. See on ro0328.
  6 - See ps03201,2. Paul quoted from the Septuagint (Translation of the OT into Greek) which is a little different.
.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.
.10  How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision.
.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:
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.
.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.
   9ff - Upon the circumcision only? The Gentiles may also be justified by faith.
   10 - How was it? Or what were the circumstances? He was justified long before he was being circumcised. See ge1505, ge1724.
   11 - Recieved ... circumcision Abraham was circumcised at age 99 ge1711.
.14  For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect:
15  Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.
.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,
  15 - Law ... wrath Paul is taking a principle and using it symbolically. Abraham lived before the commandments were given on Sinai. The word transgression implies a law. There was sin and wickedness, however. Joseph had no doubt that disobedience to God's plan was wrong ge3909. Abraham is the spiritual father of all believers.
.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.
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.
.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:
.20  He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;
21  And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.
22  And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.
  19 - See ge1717.
  22 - Therefore ... imputed "to impute" is to credit something that was not earned. Abraham had an abiding trust in God. We may and must claim by faith the righteousness of Christ asking Him to forgive us.
.23 ¶ Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him;
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;
.25  Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.
  24 - For us It must be a reality for us. v21, ro1504, 1co1011.
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