Romans Four
by Dr. Henry M. Morris
(taken from the Defender's Study Bible)
Romans 4:1 What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?
Romans 4:2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.
justified by works. The supposed contradiction between Paul and James has been widely noted. Paul says Abraham was not justified by works; James says he was (James 2:21). The point is that Abraham was justified by faith in God's Word, but he then was asked to demonstrate that his faith was genuine by his works. He was justified before God by faith but was justified before men by his works (see James 2:21-24).
what saith the scripture. The Scripture cited is Genesis 15:6. As Paul notes later (Romans 4:9-15), Abraham was justified by faith before he was given the sign of circumcision (Genesis 17:9-14) and before the law was given, so justification by faith is God's original and basic standard (that is, of course, a genuine faith in God and His Word, a faith which then causes one to obey God's Word).
Romans 4:4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.
Romans 4:7 Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.
Saying. This quote is from Psalm 32:1-2. This was David's psalm of thanksgiving after his repentance over his notorious sin of adultery and homicide. Paul thus notes that justification by faith was true both before and after Mosesbefore, in Abraham, Israel's great patriarch, and after, in David, Israel's greatest king.
Romans 4:8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.
not impute sin. By the marvelous provision of imputation, our sins were debited to the account of Jesus, the Son of man, whereas His perfect righteousness was credited to our account. “For He hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:21). See also James 2:23; Philemon 17-18.
Romans 4:15 Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.
father of us all. Abraham is the father not only of the Jews, physically speaking, but of all who are justified by faith, spiritually speaking. “They which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham” (Galatians 3:7).
father of many nations. This promise (Genesis 17:5) has been literally fulfilled, as well as spiritually. Abraham is the ancestor not only of the Israelites, but also of all the Arabic nations, as well as the Edomites, Midianites and others that are now either extinct or amalgamated with others. Probably most of the Middle Eastern Islamic nations have at least some degree of genetic descent from Abraham.
that which was spoken. This promise was “spoken” by God (Genesis 15:5).
Romans 4:21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.
able also to perform. The essence of saving faith is taking God at His Word, no matter how difficult it may seem. God's promise to Abraham was beyond all reason and human experience, but Abraham believed it! This should be our example with regard to the promises that are yet to be fulfilled.
Romans 4:22 And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.
therefore. Note the cause-and-effect relation between strong faith in God's promises and His imputation of Christ's righteousness to us.
Romans 4:23 Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him;
Romans 4:25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.