Romans 4: Abraham Believed God
Paul proves that righteousness has always come by faith, pointing to Abraham who was counted righteous before circumcision and before the law.
Romans 4 (WEB)
1 What then will we say that Abraham, our forefather, has found according to the flesh?
2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not toward God.
3 For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.”
4 Now to him who works, the reward is not counted as grace, but as something owed.
5 But to him who doesn’t work, but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness.
6 Even as David also pronounces blessing on the man to whom God counts righteousness apart from works,
7 “Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, whose sins are covered.
8 Blessed is the man whom the Lord will by no means charge with sin.”
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.
10 How then was it counted? When he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision.
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.
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.
13 For the promise to Abraham and to his seed that he should be heir of the world wasn’t through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.
14 For if those who are of the law are heirs, faith is made void, and the promise is made of no effect.
15 For the law works wrath, for where there is no law, neither is there disobedience.
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 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 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.
18 Who in hope believed against hope, to the end that he might become a father of many nations, according to that which had been spoken, “So will your seed be.”
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.
20 Yet, looking to the promise of God, he didn’t waver through unbelief, but grew strong through faith, giving glory to God,
21 and being fully assured that what he had promised, he was also able to perform.
22 Therefore it also was “reckoned to him for righteousness.”
23 Now it was not written that it was accounted to him for his sake alone,
24 but for our sake also, to whom it will be accounted, who believe in him who raised Jesus, our Lord, from the dead,
25 who was delivered up for our trespasses, and was raised for our justification.
Romans 4 (KJV)
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.
3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.
5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
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.
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.
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.
13 For 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.
14 For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect:
15 Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.
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,
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.
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.
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 Sara’s womb:
20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;
21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.
22 And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.
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.
Romans 4 (ASV)
1 What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather, hath found according to the flesh?
2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not toward God.
3 For what saith the scripture? And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned unto him for righteousness.
4 Now to him that worketh, the reward is not reckoned as of grace, but as of debt.
5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is reckoned for righteousness.
6 Even as David also pronounceth blessing upon the man, unto whom God reckoneth righteousness apart from 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 reckon sin.
9 Is this blessing then pronounced upon the circumcision, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say, To Abraham his faith was reckoned for righteousness.
10 How then was it 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 while he was in uncircumcision: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be in uncircumcision, that righteousness might be reckoned unto them;
12 and the father of circumcision to them 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.
13 For not through the law was the promise to Abraham or to his seed that he should be heir of the world, but through the righteousness of faith.
14 For if they that are of the law are heirs, faith is made void, and the promise is made of none effect:
15 for the law worketh wrath; but where there is no law, neither is there transgression.
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 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, A father of many nations have I made thee) before him whom he believed, even God, who giveth life to the dead, and calleth the things that are not, as though they were.
18 Who in hope believed against hope, to the end that he might become a father of many nations, according to that which had been spoken, So shall thy seed be.
19 And without being weakened in faith he considered his own body now as good as dead (he being about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb;
20 yet, looking unto the promise of God, he wavered not through unbelief, but waxed strong through faith, giving glory to God,
21 and being fully assured that what he had promised, he was able also to perform.
22 Wherefore also it was reckoned unto him for righteousness.
23 Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was reckoned unto him;
24 but for our sake also, unto whom it shall be reckoned, who believe on him that raised Jesus our Lord from the dead,
25 who was delivered up for our trespasses, and was raised for our justification.
Summary
To prove that justification by faith is no innovation, Paul turns to Abraham, the father of the Jewish people. If Abraham was justified by works he would have something to boast about, but Scripture says, "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness." To the one who works, the reward is owed as a wage; but to the one who does not work but trusts the God who justifies the ungodly, faith is counted as righteousness. David likewise blesses the one to whom God credits righteousness apart from works. Paul then asks when this blessing came: while Abraham was circumcised or uncircumcised? It was before circumcision, so that Abraham might be the father of all who believe, both uncircumcised and circumcised. The promise that he would inherit the world came not through the law but through the righteousness of faith. Against all hope Abraham believed, not weakening in faith though his body and Sarah's womb were as good as dead, but growing strong in faith and giving glory to God, fully convinced that God could do what he promised. That faith was credited to him, and Paul adds that it was written for our sake too, for the same righteousness will be credited to us who believe in him who raised Jesus, delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.
Key Figures
- Abraham — The forefather who believed God against all hope and had it counted to him as righteousness, becoming the father of all who believe, circumcised and uncircumcised.
- Paul — The apostle who argues from Abraham and David that righteousness has always been credited by faith, not earned by works or ritual.
- God who justifies the ungodly — The one who gives life to the dead and credits righteousness to those who trust him, fulfilling his promise by his own power.
- David — The psalmist whom Paul cites to show the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works.
Key Verse
Romans 4:3 (WEB)
For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.”
Lessons Learned
- Righteousness is credited to faith, not earned as a wage by works.
- Abraham was justified before circumcision, so he is father of all who believe.
- Faith honors God by trusting his promise even when circumstances seem impossible.
- The same righteousness counted to Abraham is offered to all who trust in the risen Christ.
- Faith, not works, is credited as righteousness. "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness" (Romans 4:3, WEB). Righteousness comes as a gift received by trust, not a wage earned by effort.
- Grace cannot be a debt. "To him who works, the reward is not counted as grace, but as something owed" (Romans 4:4, WEB). If we could earn it, it would no longer be grace.
- God justifies the ungodly. Faith is counted to the one who "believes in him who justifies the ungodly" (Romans 4:5, WEB). The good news is precisely for those who know they are not good.
- Faith trusts God against the odds. Abraham "didn't waver through unbelief, but grew strong through faith, giving glory to God" (Romans 4:20, WEB). Believing God's promise honors him most when circumstances look impossible.
- Why is it significant that Abraham was counted righteous before he was circumcised (4:9-11)?
- What is the difference between a reward that is "owed" and one that is "counted as grace" (4:4-5)?
- How does Abraham's faith in God's promise model what saving faith looks like (4:18-21)?
- What does it mean that Jesus was "delivered up for our trespasses, and was raised for our justification" (4:25)?
- Where do you find it hard to trust God's promises, and how does Abraham's example encourage you?
- Because Abraham was justified while still uncircumcised, his righteousness cannot depend on that mark, and he becomes the father of believing Gentiles as well as Jews (4:9-12). Faith, not ritual, is the family resemblance. This opens the blessing of Abraham to all who believe.
- A wage is something earned and owed, but grace is a gift that cannot be earned without ceasing to be grace (4:4-5). Paul insists that justification belongs to the second category. Salvation is always a gift to the undeserving, never a payment to the deserving.
- Abraham believed God's promise of a son though his body and Sarah's womb were as good as dead, growing strong in faith and giving God glory (4:18-21). Saving faith trusts God's word over visible impossibility. It rests not on our resources but on God's power and faithfulness.
- Christ's death dealt with the debt of our sins, and his resurrection vindicated him and secured our acquittal (4:25). The empty tomb is God's declaration that the price was accepted. Help the group see both cross and resurrection as essential to their standing with God.
- This is a personal-application question. Invite members to name a promise of God they struggle to trust amid hard circumstances. Encourage them, like Abraham, to give glory to God by resting in his power to do what he has said.