Romans 4

Grace Versus Works Romans 4:4–8

⁴Verse 4. Now to him who works, the reward is not counted as grace, but as something owed. ⁵Verse 5. But to him who doesn’t work, but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness. ⁶Verse 6. Even as David also pronounces blessing on the man to whom God counts righteousness apart from works, ⁷Verse 7. “Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, whose sins are covered. ⁸Verse 8. Blessed is the man whom the Lord will by no means charge with sin.”

The Nature of Blessing Romans 4:9–12

⁹Verse 9. Is this blessing then pronounced on the circumcised, or on the uncircumcised also? For we say that faith was accounted to Abraham for righteousness. ¹⁰Verse 10. How then was it counted? When he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision. ¹¹Verse 11. He received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while he was in uncircumcision, that he might be the father of all those who believe, though they might be in uncircumcision, that righteousness might also be accounted to them. ¹²Verse 12. He is the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had in uncircumcision.

Promise to Abraham Romans 4:13–16

¹³Verse 13. For the promise to Abraham and to his offspring that he should be heir of the world wasn’t through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. ¹⁴Verse 14. For if those who are of the law are heirs, faith is made void, and the promise is made of no effect. ¹⁵Verse 15. For the law produces wrath, for where there is no law, neither is there disobedience. ¹⁶Verse 16. For this cause it is of faith, that it may be according to grace, to the end that the promise may be sure to all the offspring, 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.

Faith and Assurance Romans 4:17–22

¹⁷Verse 17. As it is written, “I have made you a father of many nations.” This is in the presence of him whom he believed: God, who gives life to the dead, and calls the things that are not, as though they were. ¹⁸Verse 18. Besides hope, Abraham in hope believed, to the end that he might become a father of many nations, according to that which had been spoken, “So will your offspring be.” ¹⁹Verse 19. Without being weakened in faith, he didn’t consider his own body, already having been worn out, (he being about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb.

²⁰Verse 20. Yet, looking to the promise of God, he didn’t waver through unbelief, but grew strong through faith, giving glory to God, ²¹Verse 21. and being fully assured that what he had promised, he was also able to perform. ²²Verse 22. Therefore it also was “credited to him for righteousness.”

Righteousness for All Believers Romans 4:23–25

²³Verse 23. Now it was not written that it was accounted to him for his sake alone, ²⁴Verse 24. but for our sake also, to whom it will be accounted, who believe in him who raised Jesus, our Lord, from the dead, ²⁵Verse 25. who was delivered up for our trespasses, and was raised for our justification.