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Romans 4 · Berean Standard Bible

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¹What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather, has discovered? ²If Abraham was indeed justified by works, he had 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 the wages of the worker are not credited as a gift, but as an obligation. ⁵However, to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness. ⁶And David speaks likewise of the blessedness of the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works: ⁷“Blessed are they whose lawless acts are forgiven, whose sins are covered. ⁸Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will never count against him.” ⁹Is this blessing only on the circumcised, or also on the uncircumcised? We have been saying that Abraham’s faith was credited to him as righteousness. ¹⁰In what context was it credited? Was it after his circumcision, or before? It was not after, but before. ¹¹And he received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. So then, he is the father of all who believe but are not circumcised, in order that righteousness might be credited to them. ¹²And he is also the father of the circumcised who not only are circumcised, but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised. ¹³For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world was not given through the law, but through the righteousness that comes by faith. ¹⁴For if those who live by the law are heirs, faith is useless and the promise is worthless, ¹⁵because the law brings wrath. And where there is no law, there is no transgression. ¹⁶Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may rest on grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring—not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all. ¹⁷As it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.” He is our father in the presence of God, in whom he believed, the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being what does not yet exist. ¹⁸Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as he had been told, “So shall your offspring be.” ¹⁹Without weakening in his faith, he acknowledged the decrepitness of his body (since he was about a hundred years old) and the lifelessness of Sarah’s womb. ²⁰Yet he did not waver through disbelief in the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, ²¹being fully persuaded that God was able to do what He had promised. ²²This is why “it was credited to him as righteousness.” ²³Now the words “it was credited to him” were written not only for Abraham, ²⁴but also for us, to whom righteousness will be credited—for us who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. ²⁵He was delivered over to death for our trespasses and was raised to life for our justification.

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Romans

Romans 4

Faith Reckoned: The Righteousness of Abraham and the Promise of Grace

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Objective

To reveal the foundational truth that righteousness before God comes through faith, exemplified in Abraham’s belief, not by works, and to affirm the inclusive promise of justification by faith for all who believe.

Overview

Paul unfolds the doctrine of justification by faith through the example of Abraham, demonstrating that righteousness is credited apart from works. He contrasts law and grace, circumcision and faith, and highlights Abraham’s unwavering hope in God’s promise despite natural impossibilities. This chapter anchors the believer’s confidence in God’s power to justify and fulfill His promises through faith, culminating in the resurrection of Jesus as the basis for our justification.

Detailed Analysis

Event Description

Paul begins by asking what Abraham discovered in relation to the flesh. He declares that if Abraham had been justified by works, he would have grounds for boasting before God. Instead, Scripture testifies that Abraham believed God, and this faith was counted to him as righteousness. Paul contrasts the principle of earning a wage with the grace of being credited righteousness apart from works. He cites David’s words to affirm the blessedness of those whose sins are forgiven and to whom God does not impute sin.

Central Themes

Justification by faith, not by works

Grace versus debt

Blessedness of forgiveness and imputed righteousness

Cultural & Historical Context

In Jewish thought, righteousness was often linked to law-keeping and works. Paul challenges this by appealing to Abraham, revered as the father of the Jewish nation, showing that faith preceded the law and circumcision. David’s psalm underscores the blessedness of forgiveness, a theme central to Jewish worship and hope.

Key Verse

Romans 4:3

Vivid Artistic Descriptions

Abraham’s Justification by Faith, Not Works (Verses 1–8)

A solitary figure, Abraham, stands under a vast starry sky, eyes lifted in trust. Around him, shadows of law and works fade away, while a radiant light of grace envelops him, symbolizing righteousness credited through faith alone.

Faith Before Circumcision: The Universal Promise (Verses 9–17)

A tree with roots deep in uncircumcised soil, its branches reaching out to diverse peoples—both circumcised and uncircumcised—bearing fruit of promise and inheritance, illuminated by a golden seal glowing at its trunk.

Abraham’s Hope Against Hope: The Power of Faith (Verses 18–25)

An aged Abraham, frail yet radiant, stands before a closed womb symbolized as a sealed door. From beyond the door, light breaks forth, and behind him, a shadowy figure of the resurrected Christ rises, linking promise and fulfillment in a divine embrace.

Song

Romans 4 Song

Verse 1

In the quiet night beneath the stars, Abraham stood, believing far, Not by works, but by the word, Faith was counted, righteousness heard.

Verse 2

Before the sign, before the seal, Faith was counted, made real, For Jew and Gentile, all who believe, The promise given, none deceive.

Chorus

Faith alone, the heart’s pure plea, Grace bestowed, from chains set free, Not by law, but by belief, In God’s promise, sure relief.

Bridge

Hope against hope, he did not sway, Though bodies aged and wombs were gray, God who calls the dead to life, Raised our Lord through pain and strife.

Final Chorus

Faith alone, the heart’s pure plea, Grace bestowed, from chains set free, Not by law, but by belief, In God’s promise, sure relief. Righteousness given, life restored, Through Jesus Christ, our risen Lord.

Practical Application

Personal Life

Trust God’s promise even when circumstances seem impossible.

Recognize that your righteousness before God is by faith, not by your deeds.

Give glory to God for His grace that justifies and sustains you.

Community & Society

Encourage unity among believers regardless of background, as all are justified by faith.

Promote humility, knowing no one can boast before God based on works.

Support one another in persevering faith amid trials and doubts.

Global Perspective

Proclaim the gospel of justification by faith to all nations, breaking down barriers of ethnicity and law.

Advocate for grace-centered communities that reflect God’s inclusive promise.

Trust in God’s power to bring life and hope to seemingly dead situations worldwide.

Conclusion

Romans 4 anchors the gospel in the example of Abraham, showing that righteousness is credited through faith apart from works. This faith transcends law and circumcision, extending God’s promise to all who believe. Abraham’s unwavering hope amid impossibility models the believer’s confidence in God’s power to justify and resurrect. Thus, justification by faith stands as the foundation of Christian identity and hope, grounded in the risen Christ who was delivered for our offenses and raised for our justification.