Romans Chapter 4: Righteousness Imputed.
For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” Genesis 15:6 Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt. But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness.
Even Abraham does not have anything to boast of because he was made righteous by faith alone and not of works. Works does not merit grace, since one who does works expects wages not gifts. But one who does not works obtains grace through faith. That is the grace of God to justify him.
Consider: Even Moses was accepted through grace of God and not through the works of the law, as the Lord says, to him, “For you have found grace in My sight.” And Moses as mediator established the law between the people and God, while he himself operated under grace. “He took the blood and hyssop and sprinkled both all the people and the Book of the Law.” Hebrews 9:19-20
just as David also speaks of the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works: “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; Blessed is the man to whom the Lord shall not impute sin.” Psalm 32:1
Righteousness imputed: whose past sins is forgiven, neither are future sins counted against him. This justifications is through faith, because there is nothing for such a man to do. Without having done anything good or bad he is accounted righteous, for there is no sin against him.
Does this blessedness then come upon the circumcised only, or upon the uncircumcised also? For we say that faith was accounted to Abraham for righteousness. And he received the sign of circumcision, as a seal of the righteousness of faith which he had while still uncircumcised, that he might be the father of all those who believe, though they are uncircumcised, that righteousness might be imputed to them also.
The question is trying to address, if it is accounted to Abraham does that mean only to his descendants? As in only the circumcision. Paul gives his answer, because the faith of Abraham was accounted for righteousness while he was still uncircumcised so the blessedness of imputed righteousness is available to all who believe. To all of those who emulate his faith, circumcised or uncircumcised. And of the circumcision, faith is still the requirement for the imputed righteousness.
For the promise that he would be the heir of the world was not to Abraham or to his seed through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. For if those who are of the law are heirs, then faith is made void and the promise of no effect, because the law brings about wrath; for where there is not law there is no transgression.
The promise he received that the whole world would be blessed through him “in your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed.” Genesis 12:3 was not through the law but through the righteousness of faith. Because promise speaks of faith not of works. For if it was to be through law, then faith it is made void because “the law is not of faith but the man who does them shall live by them.” Galatians 3:12 And the promise of the blessing is made of no effect, because through the law no one is justified is sight of God, “for the just shall live by faith.” And through the law is knowledge of sin. For where there is no law there is no transgression [and where there is no transgression there is no judgment.] Therefore the law does not bring forth blessings but wrath.
The promise that is to bless the world is the Holy Spirit whom we receive through faith. Galatians 3:14 The whole purpose of redemption is that we might have the Spirit of God dwell in us. That is what true reconciliation is.
Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so the promise might be sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of the law, but to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is a father of us all.
It is of faith, so that it may be available to all through grace. For both Jew and Gentiles, who are the children of Abraham through faith.
As it is written “I have made you a father of many nations.” in the presence of Him whom He believed – God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did; …. And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead and deadness of Sarah’s womb. He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. And therefore “it is accounted to him for righteousness.”
The description of the walk of faith. He did not count on anything of himself to obtain the promise. Since both him and Sarah could do nothing in the natural to bring it to pass. Nor allow the circumstance to diminish his view, but had faith in the faithfulness of God and continued forward giving thanks to God. That his faith was accounted for righteousness
The Gospel: Righteousness will be imputed to us who believe in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, who was delivered up because of our offences, and was raised because of our justification.
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