Romans,
Chapter 4
© Copyright 1998 Darroll Evans-all rights
reserved
Romans 4:1-2
1 What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the
flesh, hath found?
2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not
before God.
In this chapter, Paul makes his case for
salvation by grace. We see the beginning of God’s work among men leading to
salvation in the Gentile, Abram.
Why did God choose to call Abram? What wonderful works did Abram do that
brought God to him?
None! Abram did not accomplish any wonderful work that made
God choose to call him. Abram did not
believe and because of that belief God chose him. God chose Abram, and due to that choosing
Abram believed. The covenant came
approximately 20 years after Abram believed the promise of God!
Romans 4:3 For what saith the scripture?
Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
“Believed” means to have faith. Various forms
of the root word are used over 200 times, but is not found in 2nd or
3rd John, or in Revelation.
When did Abraham believe God?
Was it before or after the covenant?
Belief came prior to the covenant and
resulted in the covenant. Again, our
believing does not result in His choosing, but His choosing results in our
believing.
Counted (Gr. elogisthee-elogisqh) means "reckoned to." It is a special
word. If you have a business manager,
it may be set up so he/she may write checks on your banking account. Although
he/she would sign the checks, they still would be credited to your account.
That is what the Greek term means. The
Greek term or a variation on the root term is used 14 times in this chapter.
Romans 4:4 Now to him that worketh is the
reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.
Grace is often described as God’s unmerited
favor. It is simply getting something we don’t deserve. Your salary is not the
result of grace. It is a debt that is owed to you in response to your work.
Grace is a gift. It is given in response to God’s love.
Romans 4:5 But to him that worketh not,
but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for
righteousness.
Millions of Church members are trying to work
their way into heaven. It is an exercise in futility. Salvation is God’s work!
Philippians 2:13---“for it is God who works in you both to will and to do
for His good pleasure” (NKJV).
Romans 4:6-8
6 Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God
imputeth righteousness without works,
7 Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are
covered.
8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.
Righteousness speaks of being legally
approved by God. If you are Christ’s, you may not be perfect in the sight of
other humans, but God approves you!
“Covered” speaks of being completely
concealed by forgiveness.
Verse 8 says, "Blessed is the man to
whom the Lord will not impute sin." in saying that Paul uses the double
negative that we previously discussed. God
delights in forgiving sin.
Romans 9:15---“For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I
will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have
compassion.”
Let me tell you the obvious, the chosen are chosen!
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.
Paul asks a rhetorical question. Does this
blessing apply only to Jews?
Not at all! It is in effect for Jew and
Gentile alike. Because of Christ, the
blessings of salvation come to both Jew and Gentile. The righteousness of faith is not the
exclusive domain of Jews or Gentiles.
Faith is God’s gift to give to whom He will!
Romans 4:10-12
10 How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision?
Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision.
11 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:
12 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.
Paul uses this repetition to establish his
point. His point is that grace was first
given to a Gentile. The promise in Genesis 12:3 was made to Abram without
condition or covenant. This promise was
first given to a Gentile, Abram!
Genesis 12:3 “I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse
him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed”
(NKJV).
Abram believed God's promise. He believed enough to go away from his
Gentile friends and family, and become the first Hebrew. In doing that God changed his name to
Abraham. Abram, the Gentile, has much in
common with modern Christians. We have become those who crossed over.
It was not because we crossed over the
Paul again goes rhetorical when he asks,
"At that point was Abraham circumcised or uncircumcised?" At that time Abraham was Abram. He was a
full-blown, card carrying, uncircumcised Gentile.
It would be about 20 years before
circumcision would be made part of a covenant arrangement between Abraham and
God. Circumcision was given as a sign of
covenant, a seal. Faith had already produced the promise. Paul goes on to point out that Abraham
received the promise prior to receiving the covenant sign. Therefore, the
promise of God must serve a purpose not covered in the covenant. That purpose
is grace to Gentiles. Gentiles had the
promise before Jews had the covenant!
The promise of ruling the world was given to
"{The} Seed" (Gr. too spermatic- tw spermati
/dative singular). The definite article (the) is not used in
the English, but it appears in the Greek. It indicates a specific
"seed," Christ Jesus.
Romans 4:14 For if they which are of the
law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect:
Jews were originally heirs by law. That did
not work. Nor, did it nullify the promise to Abraham.
Romans 4:15 Because the law worketh wrath:
for where no law is, there is no transgression.
The Law was given to point out sin. So, where
there is no Law, there can be no transgression of a law. Several years ago
certain States had no rural highway speed limit. In those states, you could get
a ticket for reckless driving, but you could not be ticketed for speeding in
the areas without a speed limit.
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,
The promise must be "of faith" and
"because of grace." Abraham is
the father of those who come to God through by grace the faith of Jesus
Christ.
Galatians
2:16 Knowing that a man is not
justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that
we might be justified by the faith of
Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no
flesh be justified. (KJV)
If the translation you use does not use the
“of” as underlines above, it is inaccurate!
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.
This verse refers to Genesis 17:5---“Neither shall thy name any more be
called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have
I made thee.”
“Nations” (Gr. ethnoon-eqnwn) speaks of ethnic groups. The Hebrew (OT) often uses
the word Goyim, or Gentiles, but translated as “nations.” By faith, Abraham is the father of the
faithful Gentiles.
"Calleth those things which be not as
though they were," in verse 17, is abused by the name it and claim it
crowd, teaching that all we need to do is to speak to the mountains of life.
Mark 11:23---“For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say
unto this mountain, be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall
not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith
shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.”
That promise has been watered down and abused
by many. It was never meant to be used
to gather monetary wealth!
Romans 4:18 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.
There are those who hope for the
manifestation of salvation in the world, so that the
Romans 4:19 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 Sarah's womb:
Abraham did not lose hope, even when the
circumstances were not advantageous.
God is not only the God of people, and birds---He is the God of
circumstances. His plan is coming to
fruition!
Do you thank Him for that despite what you
see?
Romans 4:20 He staggered not at the
promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;
Abraham is the father of the faithful because
he did not give in to unbelief.
Romans 4:21 And being fully persuaded
that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.
"Being fully persuaded" means
exactly that. Are you fully persuaded
that God can do all he has promised?
Romans 4:22 And therefore it was imputed
to him for righteousness.
Christianity is a relationship based on
faith. On what basis do you think you
have righteousness? If you are a
Christian, you have an imputed righteousness, just like Abraham.
Romans 4:23-25
23 Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him;
24 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that
raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;
25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our
justification.
The promises made to Abraham were not just
for Abraham. The Promises were delivered
to all that believe in the risen Christ.
Christ Jesus was resurrected for our justification, so we could be
declared innocent of all charges of rebellion against God.