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Summary

Romans 4:1–8 – Abraham justified by faith

What happens: Paul asks what Abraham gains by works and answers that he has no ground to boast before God. Scripture says Abraham believes God, and it is counted to him as righteousness. David also speaks of the blessing of forgiven sin and covered guilt.

What it means: Justification is counted, not earned. God credits righteousness to the ungodly who believe, showing sheer grace. Forgiveness is central, revealing God’s mercy and covenant promise.

Romans 4:9–12 – Before circumcision

What happens: Paul argues that Abraham is counted righteous before he is circumcised. Circumcision is a sign and seal of the righteousness by faith he already has. Therefore he is the father of all who believe, circumcised or not.

What it means: Faith, not ritual, brings people into God’s family. Signs point to grace but do not create it. God’s plan includes all nations through faith, honoring his promise to bless the world.

Romans 4:13–17 – Promise through faith, not law

What happens: The promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would inherit the world does not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith. Law brings wrath, but where there is no law, there is no transgression. The promise rests on grace, guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring.

What it means: Grace secures what law cannot. God’s promise is guaranteed because it depends on him, not us. This magnifies God’s faithfulness and keeps the focus on trust.

Romans 4:18–22 – Hope against hope

What happens: Abraham hopes against hope and believes God’s promise despite his age and Sarah’s barrenness. He does not waver in unbelief but grows strong in faith, giving glory to God. His faith is counted as righteousness.

What it means: Faith looks at God’s power more than human weakness. Trusting God honors him and receives his gift. God brings life from the dead, pointing to resurrection power.

Romans 4:23–25 – For us also

What happens: The words “counted to him” are written not for Abraham alone but for us who believe in him who raised Jesus from the dead. Jesus is delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.

What it means: Our faith rests on the crucified and risen Christ. The resurrection proves justification is complete and accepted. God saves by promise kept in Jesus.

Application

  • Trust God’s promise when circumstances look impossible.
  • Treat spiritual signs as reminders of grace, not substitutes for faith.
  • Give glory to God by leaning on his power, not your strength.
  • Rest in Jesus’ death and resurrection for your standing with God.

Bible

1What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?

2For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.

3For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.

4Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.

5But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

6Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,

7Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.

8Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.

9Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness.

10How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision.

11And 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:

12And 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.

13For 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.

14For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect:

15Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.

16Therefore 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,

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.

18Who 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.

19And 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:

20He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;

21And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.

22And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.

23Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him;

24But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;

25Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.

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