A cluster of dark goat-hair tents among rocky hills at dawn, with sheep and goats resting nearby.

The Book of

Romans 4

Before the law, before circumcision, an old man trusted God’s promise. Paul says that is how anyone is made right with God.

25 verses≈ 4 min3 peopleBSB

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In this chapter

Where we are

1–3:20The problemEveryone needs the gospel
3:21–5The answerRight with God by faithChapter 4
6–8New lifeFree in Christ, led by the Spirit
9–11God and IsraelHis promises stand
12–16Living itLove in a church of Jews and Gentiles

Abraham Justified by Faith

What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, has discovered? If Abraham was indeed justified by works, he had something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say?

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Romans 4:3

Paul

Someone might ask

Is this blessing only on the circumcised, or also on the uncircumcised?

Paul

We have been saying that Abraham’s faith was credited to him as righteousness.

Someone might ask

In what context was it credited? Was it after his circumcision, or before?

Paul

It was not after, but before.

And 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. And 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.

The order of events

Whiteboard

Paul puts the events in order. Abraham believed, and his faith was credited as righteousness while he was still uncircumcised. Circumcision came afterward, as a seal of what he already had. So he is “the father of all who believe,” whether circumcised or not.

Reflect

Wages or gift?

Paul says “the wages of the worker are not credited as a gift, but as an obligation.” Righteousness doesn’t work like that. It is credited to the one who “believes in Him who justifies the ungodly.” Do you ever relate to God as if He owes you, or as if you must earn His welcome? What would it look like to simply trust Him today?

Abraham Receives the Promise

For 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. For if those who live by the law are heirs, faith is useless and the promise is worthless, because the law brings wrath. And where there is no law, there is no transgression.

Therefore, 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.

the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being what does not yet exist

Romans 4:17

Question

Quick question

God promised Abraham and his offspring that he would be “heir of the world.” Paul says how that promise came.

How did the promise to Abraham come, according to Paul?

An old man seen from behind at the door of a tent, looking up at a night sky crowded with stars.

Against 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.” Without 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. Yet he did not waver through disbelief in the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God was able to do what He had promised.

0:32

Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain

This is why “it was credited to him as righteousness.”

Now the words “it was credited to him” were written not only for Abraham, but also for us, to whom righteousness will be credited—for us who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.

He was delivered over to death for our trespasses and was raised to life for our justification.

Romans 4:25

Pray

Fully persuaded

Abraham was “fully persuaded that God was able to do what He had promised.” Bring God the promise you find hardest to trust right now. Thank Him that righteousness is credited to all who believe, and that Jesus “was raised to life for our justification.”

You’ve experienced

Romans 4

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A verse to carry with you

Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.

Romans 4:3

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