Chapter 4:1-12

COMMENTARY ON THE EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS

By Dr. John R. Stone

Romans 4:1-12

4 1What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, has found? 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 CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS.” 4Now to the one who works, his wage is not credited as a favor, but as what is due. 5But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness, 6just as David also speaks of the blessing on the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works: 7“BLESSED ARE THOSE WHOSE LAWLESS DEEDS HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN, AND WHOSE SINS HAVE BEEN COVERED.” 8“BLESSED IS THE MAN WHOSE SIN THE LORD WILL NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT.” 9Is this blessing then on the circumcised, or on the uncircumcised also? For we say, “FAITH WAS CREDITED TO ABRAHAM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS.”10How then was it credited? While he was circumcised, or uncircumcised? Not while circumcised, but while uncircumcised; 11and 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, 12and 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. (Rom. 4:1-12 NASB)

Overview:

In the book of Romans the apostle Paul sets forth the gospel of grace (free favor of God) that separates Christianity from every other religion. The gospel of grace is built upon the idea that sinners can be declared righteous simply by believing that Jesus paid the penalty for their sins. The clearest statement about this doctrine of justification (freedom from guilt) by grace through faith in all the Bible is found in the passage in our lesson today. Paul explains that this is not a new idea, but that it was established in God’s dealings with Abraham. He then illustrates the same truth in God’s dealings with King David when he had sinned with Bathsheba.

No Boasting

Vss. 1-3: Paul begins his argument for justification by referring to Abraham and God’s promise that he would have many descendents. In Genesis 15:6 God said that because Abraham believed God’s promise, “his faith was reckoned (credited) to him as righteousness.” Because he believed, God declared him to be righteous in His sight even though Abraham had not done anything to earn his salvation. This verse in Genesis is one of the most important verses in the Bible because it establishes the truth that faith is the basis upon which God saves someone.

No Wages

Vss. 4-5: Paul illustrates what he is teaching with a lesson from the marketplace. When a workman gets paid at the end of the day, the payment is not considered a gift because the money was owed to the workman as his rightful wages. It is just the opposite with us and our salvation. Paul says we do not work for our salvation, rather we believe God’s promise, and He reckons our faith as righteousness. God declares that we are acceptable to Him simply because we believe His promise to forgive us if we ask Him to. We are ungodly in reality, but God treats us as though we are holy, and He reckons our faith as righteousness. No other religion in the world is like this. No other religion teaches that God will accept ungodly people simply on the basis of their believing His promise. This truth is what sets Christianity apart from every other religion.

No Judgment

Vss. 6-8: Paul also illustrates this truth from David’s life recorded in the Old Testament. David said in Psalm 32, “Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord does not take into account.” God reckoned David to be righteous even though he was an adulterer and a murderer. God accepted David on the basis of faith, not works. David’s faith in God’s promise to forgive was counted as righteousness by God. God counts us guilty because of Adam’s sin. At the crucifixion He counted Jesus guilty of our sins, and He counts us righteous when we put our faith in Jesus’ death on the cross for us.

No Rituals

Vss. 9-12: This truth is made even more certain by the fact that Abraham was reckoned righteous before he had done anything to earn God’s favor. He was reckoned righteous before the ritual of circumcision was begun for his family and the Jewish nation. This fact teaches us that rituals do not save us; they cannot make us right before God. Faith, not works, is what God requires if we are to be acceptable to Him. This is good news because anyone can be saved, even the worst sinner, because salvation is based on faith in God’s promise to forgive us.

—to be continued

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