Introduction
† Paul now turns to Abraham to prove that righteousness has always been by faith, not by works
† He's showing that what God did in Christ wasn't new, it was the fulfillment of what was always true
† This destroys the idea that law, circumcision, or effort ever made anyone right before God

Romans 4:1
What then can we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, discovered about this matter
† Paul brings Abraham into the discussion because the Jews trusted him as their foundation (John 8:39)
† If Abraham wasn't justified by works, then no one can be
† This goes straight to the root of their confidence in the flesh

Romans 4:2
If Abraham had been made right by works, then he'd have something to boast about, but not before God
† Works might impress men, but they never justify before God (Ephesians 2:8-9)
† Boasting is completely removed in God's system of righteousness
† God alone receives the glory, not man

Romans 4:3
Scripture says Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness
† Faith was credited as righteousness, not earned righteousness (Genesis 15:6)
† This happened long before the law was ever given
† This proves righteousness has always been based on belief, not performance

Romans 4:4
Now when someone works, his pay is not counted as a gift but as something owed
† If righteousness came by works, God would owe it, which is impossible
† Grace and works can't operate together as the basis of justification
† This shows salvation is never a wage system

Romans 4:5
But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness
† God justifies the ungodly, not the deserving (Romans 5:8)
† This destroys the idea that we must first become righteous before coming to God
† Faith is the means, not works

Romans 4:6
Just as David also speaks of the blessing of the person to whom God credits righteousness apart from works
† Paul now adds David as a second witness (Psalm 32:1-2)
† This confirms that even under the law, righteousness wasn't based on works
† God was always dealing with people by grace

Romans 4:7
Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered
† Forgiveness, not performance, is the foundation of blessing
† Covering of sin points forward to Christ's finished work
† This shows the heart of the gospel even in the Old Covenant

Romans 4:8
Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will not take into account
† God choosing not to count sin is the essence of justification (2 Corinthians 5:19)
† This is imputed righteousness, not earned righteousness
† This was always God's plan

Romans 4:9
Is this blessing only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised, since we say faith was credited to Abraham as righteousness
† Paul now expands this to include the nations
† Circumcision doesn't limit God's promise
† Faith is the defining factor, not identity markers

Romans 4:10
How then was it credited, while he was circumcised or uncircumcised, not while circumcised, but while uncircumcised
† Abraham was justified before circumcision (Genesis 15 before Genesis 17)
† This proves circumcision wasn't the cause of righteousness
† It removes all reliance on ritual

Romans 4:11
He received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness of faith he had while uncircumcised, so that he'd be the father of all who believe without being circumcised
† Circumcision was a sign, not the source
† Abraham becomes the father of all believers, Jew and Gentile
† This shows God's plan always included the nations

Romans 4:12
And the father of the circumcised who not only are circumcised but also walk in the steps of the faith of our father Abraham
† True children of Abraham are defined by faith, not lineage (Galatians 3:7)
† Physical identity means nothing without faith
† This redefines Israel around belief

Romans 4:13
The promise to Abraham that he'd be heir of the world was not through the law, but through the righteousness of faith
† The promise came before the law, so it can't depend on the law
† The inheritance is tied to faith, not obedience to Moses
† This shows the law was never the means of promise

Romans 4:14
If those who are of the law are heirs, then faith is made empty and the promise is canceled
† Law and promise can't function together as the basis
† If law saves, then faith becomes useless
† This exposes the contradiction in legalism

Romans 4:15
The law brings about wrath, but where there is no law, there is no violation
† Law exposes sin and brings judgment (Romans 7:7-10)
† It was never designed to save
† This explains why reliance on law leads to condemnation

Romans 4:16
For this reason it is by faith, so that it may be according to grace, so that the promise will be guaranteed to all the descendants
† Faith ensures grace, and grace ensures certainty
† The promise is secure because it doesn't depend on human effort
† This includes both Jew and Gentile believers

Romans 4:17
As it is written, I have made you a father of many nations, in the presence of Him whom he believed, God who gives life to the dead and calls into being what does not exist
† God brings life out of death, pointing to resurrection (Hebrews 11:19)
† This connects Abraham's faith to God's power over death
† This ties directly into fulfilled resurrection in Christ

Romans 4:18
In hope against hope he believed, so that he'd become a father of many nations according to what had been spoken
† Abraham believed when it made no sense naturally
† His faith rested in God's promise, not circumstances
† This shows true faith trusts God beyond visible reality

Romans 4:19
Without becoming weak in faith he considered his own body as good as dead and Sarah's womb also dead
† Abraham acknowledged the impossibility but still believed
† Faith doesn't ignore reality, it trusts God above it
† This mirrors resurrection life coming from death

Romans 4:20
Yet with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God
† Faith strengthens when focused on God, not doubt
† Giving glory to God is tied to trusting Him
† This is the opposite of works-based boasting

Romans 4:21
Being fully convinced that what God had promised, He was able to perform
† Faith rests in God's ability, not ours
† This is the foundation of all justification
† God's power guarantees the promise

Romans 4:22
Therefore it was also credited to him as righteousness
† This repeats the core truth, faith equals righteousness
† This wasn't a one-time principle, it's universal
† This is the basis of the gospel

Romans 4:23
Now not for his sake only was it written that it was credited to him
† Scripture was written for our understanding (Romans 15:4)
† Abraham's account applies to all believers
† This bridges Old and New Covenant fulfillment

Romans 4:24
But for our sake also, to whom it will be credited, as those who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead
† Faith now centers on Christ's resurrection
† This connects Abraham's faith to fulfilled redemption
† Belief in the risen Christ is the same principle

Romans 4:25
He who was delivered over because of our offenses and was raised because of our justification
† Christ's death dealt with sin, His resurrection confirmed justification
† This shows the completed work of redemption
† This is fulfilled reality, not future expectation

Historical References
† Justin Martyr wrote that Abraham was justified by faith before circumcision, showing Gentiles are included in the promise
† Irenaeus taught that Abraham believed God and was counted righteous, proving salvation has always been by faith
† Clement of Alexandria affirmed that righteousness comes by faith apart from the law, even from the beginning
† Eusebius recorded that early believers understood Abraham as the pattern of justification for all nations

How It Applies To Us Today
† We don't earn righteousness, we receive it by faith
† Our confidence isn't in what we've done, it's in what Christ has finished
† We don't live under law, we live under grace fulfilled in Christ
† Our identity isn't based on background, it's based on belief
† We can rest knowing God justifies the ungodly who trust Him

Q & A Appendix
Q Was Abraham saved by works
A No, he believed God and it was credited as righteousness (Genesis 15:6; Romans 4:3)
Q Does circumcision or any ritual make someone righteous
A No, Abraham was justified before circumcision (Romans 4:10-11)
Q What does it mean that God justifies the ungodly
A It means righteousness is given by grace, not earned (Romans 4:5; Romans 5:8)
Q Why can't law and faith work together for justification
A Because law brings wrath and cancels the promise if relied on (Romans 4:14-15)
Q How is this fulfilled in Christ
A Through His death and resurrection, which secured our justification (Romans 4:25)

† This is the fulfilled perspective we proclaim at Fulfilled Prophecies †
© Fulfilled Prophecies - Dan Maines.

Source Index
† Romans 4
† Justin Martyr, Dialogue with Trypho
† Irenaeus, Against Heresies
† Eusebius, Ecclesiastical History
† Clement of Alexandria, Stromata