Romans 4

Justification by Faith Evidenced in Old Testament

1 What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather 1according to the flesh, has found?
2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but 2not before God.
3 For what does the Scripture say? "3ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS."
4 Now to the one who 4works, his wage is not credited as a favor, but as what is due.
5 But to the one who does not work, but 5believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness,
6 just as David also speaks of the blessing on the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:
7 "6BLESSED ARE THOSE WHOSE LAWLESS DEEDS HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN, AND WHOSE SINS HAVE BEEN COVERED.
8 "7BLESSED IS THE MAN WHOSE SIN THE LORD WILL NOT 8TAKE INTO ACCOUNT."
9 Is this blessing then on 9the circumcised, or on the uncircumcised also? For 10we say, "11FAITH WAS CREDITED TO ABRAHAM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS."
10 How then was it credited? While he was circumcised, or uncircumcised? Not while circumcised, but while uncircumcised;
11 and he 12received the sign of circumcision, 13a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while uncircumcised, so that he might be 14the father of 15all who believe without being circumcised, that righteousness might be credited to them,
12 and the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also follow in the steps of the faith of our father Abraham which he had while uncircumcised.
13 For 16the promise to Abraham or to his descendants 17that he would be heir of the world was not through the Law, but through the righteousness of faith.
14 For 18if those who are of the Law are heirs, faith is made void and the promise is nullified;
15 for 19the Law brings about wrath, but 20where there is no law, there also is no violation.
16 For this reason it is by faith, in order that it may be in accordance with 21grace, so that the promise will be guaranteed to 22all the descendants, not only to those who are of the Law, but also to 23those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is 24the father of us all,
17 (as it is written, "25A FATHER OF MANY NATIONS HAVE I MADE YOU") in the presence of Him whom he believed, even God, 26who gives life to the dead and 27calls into being 28that which does not exist.
18 In hope against hope he believed, so that he might become 29a father of many nations according to that which had been spoken, "30SO SHALL YOUR DESCENDANTS BE."
19 Without becoming weak in faith he contemplated his own body, now 31as good as dead since 32he was about a hundred years old, and 33the deadness of Sarah's womb;
20 yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, 34giving glory to God,
21 and 35being fully assured that 36what God had promised, He was able also to perform.
22 Therefore 37IT WAS ALSO CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS.
23 Now 38not for his sake only was it written that it was credited to him,
24 but for our sake also, to whom it will be credited, as those 39who believe in Him who 40raised Jesus our Lord from the dead,
25 He who was 41delivered over because of our transgressions, and was 42raised because of our justification.

Cross References 42

  • 1. Romans 1:3
  • 2. 1 Corinthians 1:31
  • 3. Genesis 15:6; Romans 4:9, 22; Galatians 3:6; James 2:23
  • 4. Romans 11:6
  • 5. John 6:29; Romans 3:22
  • 6. Psalms 32:1
  • 7. Psalms 32:2
  • 8. 2 Corinthians 5:19
  • 9. Romans 3:30
  • 10. Romans 4:3
  • 11. Genesis 15:6
  • 12. Genesis 17:10
  • 13. John 3:33
  • 14. Luke 19:9; Romans 4:16
  • 15. Romans 3:22; Romans 4:16
  • 16. Romans 9:8; Galatians 3:16, 29
  • 17. Genesis 17:4-6; Genesis 22:17
  • 18. Galatians 3:18
  • 19. Rom 7:7, 10-25; 1 Corinthians 15:56; Galatians 3:10
  • 20. Romans 3:20
  • 21. Romans 3:24
  • 22. Romans 4:11; Romans 9:8; Romans 15:8
  • 23. Galatians 3:7
  • 24. Luke 19:9; Romans 4:11
  • 25. Genesis 17:5
  • 26. John 5:21
  • 27. Isaiah 48:13; Isaiah 51:2
  • 28. 1 Corinthians 1:28
  • 29. Romans 4:17
  • 30. Genesis 15:5
  • 31. Hebrews 11:12
  • 32. Genesis 17:17
  • 33. Genesis 18:11
  • 34. Matthew 9:8
  • 35. Romans 14:5
  • 36. Genesis 18:14; Hebrews 11:19
  • 37. Genesis 15:6; Romans 4:3
  • 38. Romans 15:4; 1 Corinthians 9:9; 1 Corinthians 10:11; 2 Timothy 3:16
  • 39. Romans 10:9; 1 Peter 1:21
  • 40. Acts 2:24
  • 41. Isaiah 53:4, 5; Romans 5:6, 8; Romans 8:32; Galatians 2:20; Ephesians 5:2
  • 42. Romans 5:18; 1 Corinthians 15:17; 2 Corinthians 5:15

Footnotes 20

Romans 4 Commentaries

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