Romans 4

Review

We saw in Chapter 3 the conclusion of the bad news. The fact that mankind because of the fall is utterly corrupt and worthy only of judgement and death

In Romans 3:21-26 Paul also gives the good news that there is hope in Jesus!

This leads Paul to ask the questions on the minds of his objectors:

3 Questions of 3:27-3:31 examined by Paul in Chapter 4

Romans 3:27 “27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.”

Romans 3:29 “29 Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also:”

Romans 3:31 “31 Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.”

We’ll also see the 5 Solas of the Reformation in Chapter 4:

We’re saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, as revealed in Scripture alone, to the glory of God alone.

Question 1. Is boasting excluded? Where is boasting then? Is it excluded?

Romans 4:1–8 KJV

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.

Romans 4:1–2 “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.”

The Jews of that time (and some Christians today) believed and taught that God made a covenant with Abram because of his works and the keeping of the Law. They got that by misunderstanding Genesis 26:5 “5 Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.”

Abraham was a prototype of righteousness in Second Temple Judaism. He perfectly kept the Law according to Sirach, a wisdom text written about 200 B.C.

Sirach 44:19–21 (NRSV) Abraham was the great father of a multitude of nations, and no one has been found like him in glory. 20 He kept the law of the Most High, and entered into a covenant with him; he certified the covenant in his flesh, and when he was tested he proved faithful. 21 Therefore the Lord assured him with an oath that the nations would be blessed through his offspring; that he would make him as numerous as the dust of the earth, and exalt his offspring like the stars, and give them an inheritance from sea to sea and from the Euphrates to the ends of the earth.

Jubilees 23:10 For Abraham was perfect in all of his actions with the LORD and was pleasing through righteousness all of the days of his life. (OTP 2:100)

Even though Abram was born 430 years before the Law was given (Gal 3:17) he still kept it.

Vs. 1: Paul continues his address to this objection by asking the question: How was Abraham justified?

Vs. 2: If Abraham were justified by being sinless and perfectly keeping the Law he has reason to boast and that contradicts what I said in Romans 3:27-28 that all boasting is excluded!

“But not before God” from God’s point of view Abraham has no right to boast.

In chapter 3 he said works of the law; here he only says works.

Romans 4:3–5 “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.”

Vs. 3: Here Paul shows us Sola Scriptura: The doctrine that scripture is the only source of infallible revelation and is sufficient for Christian faith and practice. What does the Bible say?

Paul quotes Genesis 15:6.

Vs. 4: We see Sola Fide: The doctrine that Christian believers are justified by faith alone rather than on the basis of good works.

If you are going to try to earn your justification you will get what you earn. How does that work out, to use our righteousness to earn justification?

Isaiah 64:5–6 “5 Thou meetest him that rejoiceth and worketh righteousness, those that remember thee in thy ways: behold, thou art wroth; for we have sinned: in those is continuance, and we shall be saved. 6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.”

We get the wages we work for when we try to use filthy works to be justified. Paul says it later in chapter 6: Romans 6:23 “23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Vs. 5: Doesn’t say “believeth on him that justifies the godly”. It’s not the person full of righteous works or living a life without sinning God justifies. God justifies the ungodly, through faith! Romans 6:23 “23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

This is the exact opposite of what the Jews and sometimes we think! How is this even possible? If Abraham couldn’t do it before the Law, how about David under the Law? Paul goes on to explain using David's writings Psalm 32.

Romans 4:6–8 “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.”

Paul is systematically using the scriptures to show the Jews none of the “heroes” they lifted up as examples of men being justified because of their righteousness or works. Giving them the answer to the question of how

Vs. 7: Quotes Psalm 32:1 “1 Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.”

Vs. 8: Psalm 32:2 “2 Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.”

Impute: to reckon or to put to account, accounting term: to charge to

Nobody could then or can now earn justification with works or behavior. How then?

Sola Gratia: The doctrine that salvation is based only on the grace of God and not human merit.

The gift of God in Romans 6:23 is not ONLY the sacrifice of Jesus. To even be able to have the faith to believe is a gift from God: Ephesians 2:8 “8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:”

Because of faith given from God to believe on the work of Jesus the perfect righteousness of Christ is imputed or put to the account of the one who believes. And our filthy works and unrighteous are credited to Christ.

Question 2. Does circumcision make a difference? Is he only the God of the Jews and not the Gentiles?

Romans 3:29 “29 Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also:”

Romans 4:9–12 KJV

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.

Vs. 9: Paul asks if the blessedness of Psalm 32 was only for the circumcised or the Jew?

Vs. 10: He answers by asking if Abraham was justified before or after he was circumcised?

Abraham was justified at least 14 years BEFORE he was circumcised not after

Genesis 15:6 “6 And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.”

Genesis 17:25–26 “25 And Ishmael his son was thirteen years old, when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. 26 In the selfsame day was Abraham circumcised, and Ishmael his son.”

If Before, then circumcision CANNOT be the method of justification. No work of man can justify man. The glory of justification is God’s alone!

Soli Deo Gloria: The doctrine that all glory is reserved for God alone and should not be given to any other person or being including Mary, saints, or angels.

Vs. 11(a): Abrahams circumcision wasn’t the “why” of his justification but was a sign and seal of it.

Vs. 11(b): Paul gives 2 reasons God justified Abraham by faith and circumcised him later:

1. That he might be the “father” in the faith of the uncircumcised Gentile believers

2. That he might be the father of the circumcised Jews who by faith and not circumcision are saved

By these 2 reasons we see where Jews and Gentiles are the same when it comes to justification.

Question 3. Do we make void the law through faith? Was Abraham justified by the Law?

Romans 4:13–17a (KJV)

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. 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, 17 (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,)...

Vs. 13: not…but

God’s promise in the Abrahamic covenant didn’t come by the Law but by righteousness that comes through faith

heir of the world:

“There is not a square inch in the whole domain of our human existence over which Christ, who is Sovereign over all, does not cry: ‘Mine!’”

“The ruin and alienation brought about by sin, curse, and fall did not transfer ownership of human existence out of the hands of God. Rather, it has meant that the ownership is contested by one who has no rightful claim whatsoever to the works of human hands, fingers—not even a thumbbreadth.”

Matthew 5:5 “5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.”

1 Corinthians 3:20–21 “20 And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain. 21 Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours;”

Vs. 14: If inheritance relies on obedience there’s no need for faith. AND we’re all in trouble and the promise is worthless

Vs. 15: Law turns sin into transgression (trespassing on purpose) and earns God’s wrath. Where there is no law there is no wrath.

Vs. 16: God is gracious and salvation originates in his sheer grace alone. For this to be true, our human response can only be faith. For grace gives and faith takes. Faith’s exclusive function is humbly to receive what grace offers. Otherwise ‘grace would no longer be grace’ (Romans 11:6).

Vs. 17(a) This is so justification can be given to all whether Jew or Gentile

No questions and answer here, Paul is clear that if justification isn’t by works or circumcision; it isn’t by the Law either!

Abraham was justified by faith

Romans 4:17b–22 (KJV)

17 …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.

Vs. 17(b): God’s power is displayed

giving life to the dead

calling into being what was not, creation itself

Vs. 18-20: Abraham believes IN SPITE of what he knew the reality of his life to be. Abraham is old and no longer able physically to repeat the mistake he made in taking Sarah’s servant Hagar. Because of this he has no choice but to let God be God. God has given him the faith to believe!

But not only Abraham, we also are justified by faith

Romans 4:23–25 KJV

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.

Vs. 23: Scripture isn’t to just prove to the Jews then but us now:

Romans 15:4 “4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.”

Vs. 24: for us also: righteousness is credited to us that believe in Him that raised Jesus from the dead

Vs. 25: a comprehensive statement of the Gospel in a verse

Solus Christus: The doctrine that Christ is the only mediator between God and human beings apart from a priestly class or sacraments.

Jesus alone is the author and deliverer of our justification. Christ alone!

Conclusion

God MUST judge sin! There is no way in yourself to keep from facing the just judge that God is and spare yourself from the righteous wrath He brings in the judgement of sin! Romans 3:23 “23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;”

Romans 6:23 “23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Romans 5:8 “8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

God made a perfect way for you to be justified and counted righteous before Him by pouring ALL His wrath out on His Son and judging every filthy, wicked deed and even thought that any who would be saved commit.

Ephesians 2:8 “8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:”

By your faith in the perfect life, works, and death of Jesus God judges the sins of the saved by judging Christ in your place!

What do you get in the trade? The complete righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ that only He has. The only one who ever has and ever will be able to obey the Law perfectly! A perfect High Priest that lived lives we live Hebrews 4:15 “15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.”

We’re saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, as revealed in Scripture alone, to the glory of God alone.

We see in the Bible it took a perfect sacrifice in Jesus given by grace to perfectly satisfy the Law and the wrath of God so that we might through faith have a perfect salvation and God perfectly glorify Himself!