Romans 4:1-12 - Abraham Justified by Faith
📖 Passage
🧠 Context & Background
Paul now turns to Abraham, the father of Israel, as the chief example of justification by faith apart from works. The Jews revered Abraham as righteous, yet Paul insists that his righteousness was not earned, but imputed by God through faith. This truth dismantles all boasting and places salvation entirely upon God’s gracious promise.
🌿 Key Themes
- Faith, not works: Abraham was not justified by what he did, but by believing God’s promise.
- Imputed righteousness: Righteousness is credited, not earned.
- Circumcision and faith: Circumcision was a seal, not the cause, of Abraham’s justification.
- Universal example: Abraham is the father of all who believe, Jew and Gentile alike.
📖 Verse-by-Verse Commentary
Romans 4:1 — Abraham as an Example
“What then shall we say was gained by Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh?”
- Paul appeals to Abraham, the father of Israel, as the test case.
- If Abraham’s justification was by works, it would undermine Paul’s teaching of faith alone.
- His example carries weight for both Jews and Gentiles.
Romans 4:2 — Works Cannot Boast Before God
“For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God.”
- Works might bring human recognition but never justify before God.
- Before the all-holy God, no one can boast in personal achievement.
- This anticipates Paul’s emphasis on grace over merit.
Romans 4:3 — Faith Counted as Righteousness
“For what does the Scripture say? ‘Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.’”
- Paul cites Genesis 15:6, the central text for justification by faith.
- Abraham’s righteousness was not earned but credited through belief in God’s promise.
- The word “counted” (logizomai) shows a legal declaration, not moral perfection.
Romans 4:4 — Wages vs. Grace
“Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due.”
- If salvation were by works, it would be a matter of wages, not grace.
- Wages are earned; gifts are freely given.
- This contrast highlights the incompatibility of works-righteousness with grace.
Romans 4:5 — The Ungodly Justified by Faith
“And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness.”
- God justifies not the righteous but the ungodly—shocking to Jewish ears.
- Faith, not performance, is the means by which righteousness is credited.
- This verse summarizes the scandal and beauty of the gospel.
Romans 4:6 — David’s Testimony of Grace
“Just as David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works:”
- Paul adds David as a second witness, reinforcing Abraham’s example.
- Both patriarch and king affirm justification apart from works.
- God’s blessing rests on the one declared righteous by grace.
Romans 4:7–8 — Blessed Forgiveness
“‘Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin.’”
- Quoting Psalm 32:1–2, Paul stresses forgiveness as central to justification.
- God not only forgives but refuses to count sin against the believer.
- True blessing comes not from law-keeping but from mercy received.
Romans 4:9 — Blessing for Jew and Gentile
“Is this blessing then only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? For we say that faith was counted to Abraham as righteousness.”
- Paul raises the key question: is justification limited to Jews?
- The answer lies in Abraham’s timeline—he was justified before circumcision.
- Therefore, the blessing extends to Gentiles who share Abraham’s faith.
Romans 4:10 — Justified Before Circumcision
“How then was it counted to him? Was it before or after he had been circumcised? It was not after, but before he was circumcised.”
- Abraham’s faith was credited as righteousness in Genesis 15, years before circumcision in Genesis 17.
- This chronology proves circumcision is not a prerequisite for justification.
- Faith precedes and outweighs external rituals.
Romans 4:11 — Circumcision as a Sign, Not the Basis
“He received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised.”
- Circumcision was a sign and seal, not the source, of righteousness.
- It confirmed a reality already established by faith.
- Signs are valuable but only as outward testimonies of inward truth.
Romans 4:12 — Father of All Who Believe
“So that he would be the father of all who believe without being circumcised, so that righteousness would be counted to them as well.”
- Abraham is father not only of believing Jews but also of believing Gentiles.
- Faith, not ethnicity or ritual, defines true covenant membership.
- The gospel fulfills the promise that Abraham would be a blessing to all nations.
🔍 Trusted Insight
Spurgeon wrote:
“Faith is the hand which lays hold upon the promises of God, not the price which purchases salvation. We are saved by grace through faith; faith itself is but the channel of blessing, never the cause.”
This insight matters because it keeps the focus entirely upon God’s free grace and the object of faith—Christ—rather than on the act of believing as a meritorious work.
Summary: Abraham’s justification proves that salvation is by faith alone, apart from works or rituals, and that God’s blessing extends to all who believe.
🧩 Review Questions
- Why does Paul use Abraham as his chief example of justification by faith?
- How does Genesis 15:6 dismantle the idea of righteousness by works?
- What role does circumcision play in Abraham’s justification, and why is the order significant?
- How does David’s testimony in Psalm 32 reinforce Paul’s argument?
⚔️ Common Objections
- Paul is answering the anticipated Jewish objection: “What about Abraham? Wasn’t he justified by works or circumcision?”
- He dismantles this by showing Abraham was declared righteous by faith before circumcision (Genesis 15:6).
Today’s parallel objections:
“Faith alone seems too easy — don’t we need works?”
- “Isn’t religious ritual necessary for salvation?”
- “Doesn’t God favor certain people (Jews, churchgoers, moral families)?”
🙋 Application Questions
- Do you tend to rely on your works for righteousness, or rest in Christ’s finished work?
- How can Abraham’s example encourage your faith when you feel unworthy?
- What rituals or “badges” of faith might you be tempted to trust in, rather than Christ alone?
🔤 Greek Keywords
- Logizomai (λογίζομαι) – “to count, reckon, credit”; used repeatedly in Romans 4 about righteousness being credited.
- Dikaiosynē (δικαιοσύνη) – “righteousness”; the state of being right before God.
- Pistis (πίστις) – “faith, trust”; reliance upon God’s promise.
📚 Cross References
- Genesis 15:6 — Abraham’s faith credited as righteousness.
- Psalm 32:1–2 — David describes the blessing of forgiveness.
- Galatians 3:6–9 — Abraham as the father of faith.
- Philippians 3:9 — Righteousness comes through faith, not the law.
- Romans 3:28 — Justified by faith apart from works.