Village Schools of the Bible

ROMANS: Heart & Soul of the Gospel
A Devotional Study of Romans
by Max Frazier, Jr.

ROMANS 4: The Old Testament Illustration of Justification

This week I would have focus upon one of the Bible's great heroes of the faith, Abraham. Paul uses him as the example of justification in Romans 4.

First we need to consider the definition of "justification." It means "to declare and treat as righteous." It does not mean to make a man righteous, that belongs to sanctification.

Verses 1 and 2: The Jews were arguing that Abraham was justified by his works. Paul is about to explain that everything Abraham had came as a result of his faith in God. Return to Study Notes Index

Verses 3-12: Abraham's Righteousness

"Count, impute, reckon" - all are the same Greek word that means "to put to one's account' (see Genesis 15:6 - Abraham's faith was not an act, but an attitude)

Verses 4-5: Who does God justify?

a. Is it to the man who works? - NO, no one ever got righteous by work or worth

b. It is to the man who does not work? - YES, the man who sees his guilt, and his entire inability to put it away and ceases from all efforts to obtain God's favor by his own doings, or self-denyings, even by his prayers.

c. God justified the ungodly - God does not justify the godly (see Romans 3:23 - all have sinned)

Verses 4-5: On what grounds can God justify the godly?

a. On grounds of man's godliness? - NO, you leave out the blood of Christ, on which ground alone God can deal with sinners; and you have really denied this so-called "godly" man to be a sinner before God at all, since he is to be justified on another ground than is the openly ungodly sinner.

b. The grounds is the shed blood of Christ

Verses 6-8: David used as an illustration

a. Paul quotes from Psalm 32:1-2. Forgiveness is more than the mere remitting of penalty. God's forgiveness is the going forth of God's infinite tenderness toward the object of His mercy.

b. "Sins are covered" - the Old Testament only covered sins, did not remove them (see Hebrews 10:3,11)

c. If a man is blessed because his sins are covered, how much more the man whose sins are put away (see Hebrews 9:26)

d. Sins are removed at the cross of Christ

e. Abraham received his righteousness by faith, works had nothing to do with it.

Verses 9-12: The Jews felt that circumcision was instrumental in Abraham's receiving righteousness

a. Did Abraham receive circumcision first or righteousness? (see Genesis 15:6 and Genesis 17:1). Circumcision was at least 13 years later.

b. What was the purpose of circumcision? It was a seal of righteousness already received. Circumcision was an outward sign or symbol, both to Abraham and to the world, about him. To Abraham, God was his God; to the world, that Abraham was separated from the world unto God.

c. Abraham had righteousness apart from works and human ordinances.

Verses 13-16: Abraham's Inheritance

Abraham and his seed are heirs of the world, and we are heirs because we are his seed by faith (see First Corinthians 3:21)

Verse 13: the promise was "through the righteousness of faith"

Verse 14: If God would offer this inheritance through the Law, then this promise would fail because nobody ever kept the Law

Verse 15: This verse expresses the fact that nobody ever kept the Law and because they had broken the Law, God's wrath must fall upon anybody who tried to keep it and failed.

"Where there is no Law, neither is there transgression in God's sight"

1. It takes Law to bring forth transgression of it - though sin may be present. No law, no transgression of that law

2. There may be divine dispensations where Law is not the principle relationship with God

3. To come into a spiritual place where there will be "no transgression", men must be removed completely

4. The only place of freedom from Law is the place of inheritance.

Verse 16: Tells why it positively came by faith - "so that it might be guaranteed"

Verses 17-21: Abraham's Posterity

Verse 17: Abraham got his posterity through believing:

Five facts about his faith:

1. Verse 17: he believed God. A God who quickens the dead and calls those things that are not as though they were.

It was not "I will make you", but "I have made you" - it was an already accomplished fact. (See Romans 8:29-30 - we are predestined, we are called, we are justified, we are glorified, we are seated with Christ in the heavenly places. God can say it because He can do it!)

2. Verse 18: he believed against hope. There was no human ground for any hope, but he believed God anyway, and his faith gave him a hope. When things are going wrong, if we can just believe God, then we have hope. Out of our faith comes hope.

3. Verse 19: he believed in spite of circumstances. His old age (100 years) and the barrenness of his wife.

This is the kind of faith God wants us to exercise.

4. Verse 20: he believed without wavering. "Waver" means "to divide". One part says, "I believe God" and one part says, "I don't know." He believed God with all his heart.

5. Verse 21: he believed God could perform. Therefore Paul follows with verse 22. "Counted unto him for righteousness" - key to the whole passage (see verses 3,5,9,22). Abraham did not get a single thing by works.

"faith" and "believe" occur 16 times in this chapter.

Verses 23-25: Practical Application

God has but one way of saving men in all ages. It is by faith, apart from works (see Ephesians 2:8-10)

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS:

As you have read, the central figure of this chapter is Abraham. Of all the people within the pages of the Old Testament's story, the Apostle Paul is most drawn to Abraham, citing his story in several of his epistles. Paul's focus in this chapter centers around Genesis 15:6 where God credits righteousness to Abraham because he believed.

Now, what exactly did Abraham believe? You might remember that the context of Genesis 15 begins with Abraham urging God to allow him to adopt Eliezer, his servant, as his heir. You might also remember that, at this point in his life, Abraham and Sarah had no children...and they were not getting any younger. Culturally, Abraham was just doing what was accepted. The only problem was God said no! He reiterated again to Abraham that Abraham would have descendants as vast as the stars of the heavens. And Abraham believed God! His belief was the acceptance by faith (certainly there was no logical grounds for this believing this almost impossible promise by God). And what did God do? He credited this to Abraham as righteousness, or a right standing with God.

How does Genesis 15 conclude? It closes with God's covenant made with Abraham concerning descendants and land. This covenant was all of God. It was God alone who walked between the sacrificed animals. Abraham's only participation was in his act of faith, of believing that God could do the impossible!

The Apostle Paul goes on to state that that same statement can be said of us. God has credited to us His righteousness because we have believed. Believed what? The great promises of God through Jesus Christ. We have believed that Jesus Christ died for us. We believe that by putting one's trust in Christ, one can experience eternal life. Such belief, when acted upon, does result in a right standing before God.

So, thank you, Abraham, for your example. Your faith is an outstanding example and an encouragement to me. May your story never be forgotten.

QUESTIONS TO PONDER AS YOU READ THIS SECTION:

1. Who does God justify? Why is it difficult to share the gospel with a person who is "godly" and is convinced his or her works will avail toward righteousness? Is faith in God primarily an attitude or an act?

2. Why could God never base the reward of His salvation upon those who only kept the Law? How do you share with a "righteous" person that he or she has broken God's laws?

3. Relate five facts about Abraham's faith as found in verses 17-21. Key in on the words "believe" and "faith."

4. How can these facts discovered about Abraham's faith strengthen our own faith today?

5. What is the only way a person can be saved? (compare with Ephesians 2:8-10)

Romans 3:21-31 Return to the Table of Contents Romans 5:1-11