Study Notes For Romans
Chapter Four
Romans 4:1 “What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?”
- Remember, we are talking about the works of the Law of Moses contextually (Romans 3:27-31).
- Abraham obviously was not alive under the Law of Moses (Genesis 25:8).
- The promises to Abraham were not from the Law of Moses (Romans 4:13).
- Since the Jews generally thought highly of Abraham (Luke 16:29-31, John 8:30-33, and John 8:53), the points in our context here forward are using that fact (cf. Acts 13:26) to establish the point that the works of the law are not what justifies (Romans 3:20).
- The Jews were not seeking through faith (Romans 9:31-32).
- The context will get to the point of looking before the Law to the promises (Romans 4:16).
Romans 4:2 “For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.”
- Ignorant students of the Scriptures make a huge mistake here. Again, we are talking about the works of the Law of Moses contextually (Romans 3:27-31).
- To say that Abraham was not justified by works of faith denies the inspired words of James (James 2:21-24; cf. Genesis 22:1-18).
- Remember what the Jews in Rome were making their boast through (Romans 2:23; cf. John 5:45).
- Glory belongs to God in all things (I Corinthians 10:31; cf. Romans 4:20).
- Even in good works we do through faith, the glory is to our Lord (Matthew 5:14-16 and Philippians 1:10-11).
Romans 4:3 “For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.”
- Genesis 15:1-21
- The best commentary on this is found here: Galatians 3:1-29
- Before Genesis 15, Abraham had already shown the Lord his faith (Genesis 12:1-9 and Hebrews 11:8-10).
Romans 4:4 “Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.”
- There is working for a wage wherein the employer owes the employee based upon terms set forth and agreed upon (Matthew 20:1-16).
- What Jesus did for sinners to be saved was not earned by anyone (Romans 5:6-11 and Hebrews 9:11-14).
- Israel was working the works of the Law of Moses thinking that they would be justified by those works apart from faith in Christ and grace (Romans 9:31-32).
- Why did the remnant of the Jews remain? It was not because of their works in the Law of Moses, but by the grace of God (Romans 11:1-6).
- If they called Abraham their father, they should have realized works of the Law of Moses did not do what they thought; for Abraham lived before the Law was put in place {more on this in verses to come in this chapter}. That does NOT mean Abraham didn’t do anything on his part for his relationship with God and to obtain the blessing (Genesis 26:1-5).
Romans 4:5 “But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.”
- No man could be justified by the deeds of the Law of Moses (Acts 13:38-39, Romans 3:20, and Galatians 2:16; cf. Romans 8:3).
- It is faith in Christ and by His grace rather than works of the Law of Moses that one can be justified (Romans 3:24-28).
- One becomes righteous through faith in Christ (Romans 9:30, Romans 10:6, and Philippians 3:9).
- Remember also, this context is steering the Jews from their dependance on their works from the Old Law. This is NOT teaching faith alone or that works of faith are not required (James 2:14-26).
Romans 4:6-7 “Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.”
- cf. Psalms 32:1-2
- Even as the man who is blessed in having God take into account the righteousness of that man without works of the law of Moses. Remember what we read in the previous chapter (Romans 3:20-30). The blessedness of Abraham coming upon the Gentiles was not earned in any obedient works either (Galatians 3:14).
- Now remember something about the difference of forgiveness in Christ vs. that of old such as in the days David lived as he is referenced in this verse. See: Hebrews 10:1-18
- Understanding the difference between forgiveness of sins under the Old vs. the New, just think about what that means now (Ephesians 1:7, Colossians 2:13, I John 1:9, and I John 2:12).
- To have sins covered means that they are concealed. Since God does not remember our forgiven sins now at all… (Hebrews 8:7-13).
- Imputed righteousness is not upon us today because of ourselves. We could not be made righteous without Jesus (Romans 4:24-25).
- Jesus sacrificed Himself to bring us to the Father (I Peter 3:18).
Romans 4:8 “Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.”
- cf. II Corinthians 5:18-19
- Why? Well, if the Lord does not hold one accountable to their sins, that means that person is not spiritually dead (Luke 15:11-32, Romans 6:23, Ephesians 2:1, and James 1:15).
- This was and is possible because of the grace of God (Ephesians 2:5).
Romans 4:9 “Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness.”
- We are coming back to one of the main contextual points here (Romans 3:29-30).
- “Whosoever” is the point (Romans 10:8-17; cf. Luke 2:25-32, Mark 16:15-16, and Acts 13:45-49).
- Notice how being of the circumcision is handled in verses 10-12.
- The righteousness of God is by faith of Jesus Christ (Romans 3:22) not by the works of the Law of Moses (Galatians 2:16-21). *more to come on this point in the context.
Romans 4:10-12 “How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision. 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: 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.”
- When was circumcision established? Notice: Genesis 17:1-14
- From our study of Romans 4:3, we know Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness before circumcision was established (Genesis 15:1-21).
- So, it is fair to reason that circumcision had nothing to do with the initial righteousness of Abraham. The Jews in Rome were putting too much stock in the practice of circumcision (Galatians 5:6, Galatians 6:15, and Colossians 3:10-11).
Romans 4:13 “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.”
- The promise concerning the seed of Abraham was made BEFORE the Law of Moses was given (Genesis 12:3 and Genesis 22:17-18). Therefore, it was not about his works under a law he never lived under.
- Cf. Galatians 3:16-18
- As we have already addressed (Romans 4:11), it was by his faith.
Romans 4:14 “For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect:”
- This is where faith and grace stand above the law of Moses regarding the promises made to Abraham and his seed (Romans 4:16; cf. John 1:17).
- Consider who those “of the law” are (Romans 2:17; 2:23).
- Those that kept the law, after the law was finished (Colossians 2:14), had fallen from grace (Galatians 5:4).
Romans 4:15 “Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.”
- Looking back, what happened once the Law of Moses came into existence (Romans 5:13 and Romans 7:7)?
- Sin is transgression of the Law (I John 3:4). Wherein there is no law there is no transgression. God’s wrath comes on the disobedient (Deuteronomy 30:11-20 and Colossians 3:6).
- Now, don’t get this twisted up either. This does not mean sin was not possible before the Law of Moses. We should know this clearly from Adam and Eve (Genesis 2:15-17 and Genesis 3:1-24), Cain and Abel (Genesis 4:1-16), the flood (Genesis 6-8), etc.
- The Lord added the Law because they were doing things they should have known better than, so to make it clear - here is your law (Galatians 3:19 and I Timothy 1:8-11).
- The context we are studying is referring to the Law of Moses vs. faith. Remember, those outside of the Law still were accountable for that which they knew concerning right from wrong (Romans 2:12-16; cf. I Peter 3:18-4:6).
Romans 4:16 “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,”
- This brings about the conclusion of the previous points. The promise was not through circumcision or the keeping of the Law of Moses.
- If it were through circumcision or the Law that would exclude Gentiles for the Law was given to the children of Israel (Deuteronomy 4:44). Circumcision was commanded in that law, not taught to the whole world (Leviticus 12:1-3).
- For further explanation, just read: Galatians 3:26-29; cf. Romans 3:29-30
Romans 4:17 “(As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.”
- As it is written… (Genesis 17:4-5).
- Abraham was in the presence of the Lord [“before him”] when this promise was made (Genesis 17:1).
- God who quickeneth the dead (John 5:21, John 6:63, Romans 6:3-8, and I Corinthians 15:22).
- Calleth those things which be not as though they were (Isaiah 45:19-21, Isaiah 46:9-10, and Acts 15:13-18).
Romans 4:18-22 “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. 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: He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.”
- Against hope [because of his age and Sarah’s womb], believed in hope (Genesis 11:30 and Genesis 15:1-6).
- His faith did not mean it did not seem unbelievable at moments to both he and Sarah (Genesis 17:17 and Genesis 18:11-15).
- So, consider the wording “staggered not.” Staggered [διακρίνω] meaning: “to separate thoroughly, that is, (literally and reflexively) to withdraw from, or (by implication) oppose; figuratively to discriminate (by implication decide), or (reflexively) hesitate: - contend, make (to) differ (-ence), discern, doubt, judge, be partial, stagger, waver” (Strong’s # 1252).
- Think about what is said about Sarah (Hebrews 11:11-12).
- He was initially fully persuaded (again; Genesis 15:5-6; cf. Hebrews 11:13) and then again (Hebrews 11:17-19).
- It was imputed to him for righteousness (Romans 4:1-3).
Romans 4:23-25 “Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.”
- It is wonderful to realize how God had things written for the benefit of future generations (Romans 15:4, I Corinthians 9:9-10, I Corinthians 10:1-12, and II Timothy 3:15-17).
- Looking back on those who moved with faith and seeing God’s treatment of them is the whole purpose on one entire chapter of the Bible (Hebrews 11:1-40) to establish how the just live by faith (Hebrews 10:38-39).
- Abraham believed in what God promised him (as we have discussed throughout this chapter).
- For commentary on verses 24-25, see part of a sermon preached by Paul (Acts 13:26-39).
- Jesus being delivered for the sins of others and raised is the cornerstone of our faith (I Corinthians 15:1-28 and I Peter 3:18-22).
- The Father raised Jesus from the dead (Romans 6:4, Hebrews 13:20-21, and I Peter 1:18-21).