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Romans 4 Part 2

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In the last part, we saw that both Abraham and David were credited righteousness to their accounts and that it was without the law or apart from the law. They simply believed God. In the remaining portion of chapter four, it turns our attention back to Abraham and looks at it with further detail of how Abraham was able to receive righteousness apart from the law.

Romans 4:9-10 Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness. How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision.

This blessedness, where God imputes righteousness apart from works to the believer, is not to the circumcision or the Jews only. But, it is also to the uncircumcision or the Gentiles. When did Abraham receive righteousness? According to these verses, it says that he received it while he was still uncircumcised. Abraham was a Gentile before he was a Jew. He was called out of the nations unto God (Gen. 12).

Romans 4:11 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:

Circumcision was given as a sign of the “seal of the righteousness of the faith.” Genesis 17:11 says “and you shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between Me and you.” That covenant, of course, is the Abrahamic covenant in chapter 12 which he received by promise, and not by the law. Remember that the Jews throughout her history would require a sign (1 Cor. 1:22). It was God’s way of distinguishing them from the rest of the nations. The sign in itself didn’t make him righteous. He received the seal while he was uncircumcised.

Circumcision was given as a sign signifying that Abraham did receive righteousness. But, once again, circumcision is not what made him righteous. However, what about today? Since circumcision is nailed to the cross (Col. 2:14) with all of the other “law of commandments, contained in ordinances (Eph. 2:15),” so then what is our seal? Our seal is the Holy Spirit.

Ephesians 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

 There are no outward signs or rituals for us today that are required of us to show that we are sealed. Signs were for the Jewish nation (Israel). Since we believed and are made the righteousness of God, we are now complete in him (Col. 2:10). At the end of verse 11, Abraham is said to be the father of all those that believe, even if you are uncircumcised. Righteousness would be imputed to us also.

Romans 4:13-14 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. For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect:

We read in Galatians 3:17 that the law “cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.” Then it says it Galatians 3:18 “For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.” Abraham is considered the father of all those who believe whether they be Jews or Gentiles, circumcised or uncircumcised. If the inheritance was through the law, it would be as if God’s promise to Abraham never happened. All of us would then have to become Jews, become circumcised in order to be saved. But, instead the promise was to Abraham through the righteousness of faith. Therefore, the Gentiles also could be saved or justified by faith alone apart from the works of the law.

Romans 4:16 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,

In verses 17-22, it explains even though Abraham and Sarah couldn’t have children, because their bodies were reproductively dead, Abraham still believed God when he promised him a son. He believed God, “who gives life to the dead and call those things which do not exist as though they did (4:17),” and he was strengthened in faith (4:20), and he gave glory to God. Once again, because he believed God his faith was accounted to him for righteousness (4:22).

Romans 4:23-25 Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.

All of what Paul writes here in chapter four about Abraham and David, about how they received righteousness by faith alone without the law was not just for Abraham’s sake, but for our sake as well. Righteousness is imputed to us when “we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; Who was delivered for [or on account of] our offences, and was raised again for [or on account of] our justification.” Christ paid for all of our sins, buried them out of his sight forever, and rose again so that you and I could have eternal life in Christ Jesus in heavenly places. When you believe the gospel (1 Cor. 15:1-4), then you are made the righteousness of God in Him (2 Cor. 5:21) and have eternal life!

Romans 4 Part 1

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Romans 4:1-2 What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.

Paul answers the question in verse one in verse two by saying that “if Abraham were justified by works” then he would have reason to boast or glory in himself. But, Paul quickly adds on at the end of the sentence by saying “but not before God.” He doesn’t have a reason to boast before God, because He wasn’t justified by his works. Paul concluded in Romans 3:28 that “a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law.” Then Paul continues in verse three to say that “Abraham believed God, and it (his faith) was counted unto him for righteousness.”

This is of course referring to the passages in Genesis chapters 12 and 15. This is before circumcision was given as a sign of the covenant that was made with Abraham. In Genesis 12:1-3, the Abrahamic Covenant was made. In Genesis 15, it is confirmed and it is said “And he (Abraham) believed in the LORD, and He accounted it to him for righteousness (Gen. 15:6).” Circumcision would be given as a sign of the covenant in Genesis 17:9-14. “For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom (1 Cor. 1:22).”

Romans 4:4-5 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

If Abraham did receive righteousness by his own works, he would then have reason to boast, because he would have earned it himself and therefore, the reward (righteousness) would be given to him because he worked for it and therefore would be deserving of it. It would be out of debt. It would be something owed to him. Therefore, it would not be by God’s grace. It would not be a free gift. When you work for someone else, certain wages are paid out to you for the work that you’ve done. Your boss doesn’t give you your wages out of grace, but out of debt. He gives it to you, because you did the work and therefore, certain wages are owed to you.

There are certain wages that we do deserve, but it is not eternal life (the righteousness of God). Instead, it is death. The wages that we are deserving of is death. “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord (Rom. 6:23).” Romans 3 explains to us that none of us are righteous (3:10), the law reveals to us that we are all sinners (3:20), and that we “all have sinned and fall short (we continue to come short) of the glory of God (3:23).”

So, Paul continues to say that it is the person that does not work, but believes on Christ Jesus, who justifies the ungodly. The righteousness of God is imputed to that person’s account, because he simply believed the gospel. What’s the gospel? That Jesus Christ died for our sins on the cross, was buried, and rose again the third day (1 Cor. 15:1-4)! The gift is given by God by His grace (Rom. 3:24). It is a free gift.

Romans 4:6-8 Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.

Paul now uses David as an example of God imputing righteousness to his account entirely apart from works. He quotes from Psalm 32:1-2. He says that “Blessed are they whose iniquities (sins) are forgiven,…Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.” David had acknowledged that he had sinned against God in verse 5. Then in verse 10 he writes “But he who trusts in the LORD, mercy shall surround him.” In Psalm 33:18-19 it says, “Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy; To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine.” And then in verses 21 and 22, it says “because we have trusted in His holy name. Let your mercy, O LORD, be upon us. Just as we hope in you.” David had acknowledged his sin before the LORD and trusted in His name and the LORD had mercy upon him. He forgave him of his sin, because He chose not to impute the sin to David’s account. David was declared righteous apart from the works of the law, because of his faith in the LORD. If David (who lived under the law) were judged by the law and God did not choose to have mercy upon him, then he would have been put to death. The law declared him guilty. The rule at that time was that if you sinned, you would be judged by the law. To be justified by faith apart from the law was not yet revealed at that time. It was not the way the Jewish nation operated. Under the law, salvation was by faith plus works. David was an exception to that rule.

But now, the exception has become the rule. People today, under the Dispensation of the Grace of God (Eph. 3:2), are also justified by faith apart from works (the works of the law). We are declared righteous, when we simply believe that Jesus Christ died for all of our sins, was buried, and rose again on the third day. God is not imputing the world’s sins against them (2 Cor. 5:19). He has forgiven them. That doesn’t mean that everyone is automatically saved. They still need faith. Faith is required in all dispensations. Abraham believed God when He told him that he would be the father of a great nation and that through his seed would all the families of the earth be blessed. David had faith by trusting in the Lord that His mercy would deliver his soul from death. We have faith by believing in His finished work on the cross (His death, burial, and resurrection). Because of our faith in Him and His work on the cross, we are made the righteousness of God in Him (2 Cor. 5:21), and it is entirely apart from the works of the law.

The Gospel of Christ

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Romans 1:16-17 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

It says that the gospel of Christ is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believes it. What is the gospel? It is the good news that the Lord Jesus Christ died on the cross for all of our sins, was buried, and rose again the third day (1 Cor. 15:1-4).

1 Corinthians 1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

The preaching of the cross is the power of God to us that are saved or being saved! The passage continues in verses 23 and 24 saying that “we preach Christ crucified” and “Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.” The cross is a stumblingblock to the Jews and foolishness to the Greeks.

Why is the cross considered a stumblingblock to the Jews? Under the law, they were given the covenants. They were told that they needed to keep the commandments in order to be a holy nation, a kingdom of priests (Ex. 19:5,6). Under the law, salvation was by faith plus works. They needed to do good works, keep the law in faith in order to be saved. We learn from Romans 9:31,32 that Israel was trying to pursue righteousness by the works of the law. But, they (Israel) did not obtain righteousness, but the Gentiles did, because the Gentiles obtained it by faith. Israel tried to establish their own righteousness, instead of submitting to the righteousness of God (Rom. 10:3). They stumbled, as so many people still do today, by thinking they can obtain righteousness by their own works.

But, the Scriptures say that the righteousness of God (the righteousness that belongs to God) is revealed in the gospel and that is why the gospel of Christ is the power of God (not our own power) that saves all those that believe.

Romans 3:21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;

His righteousness is manifested to us without or apart from the law. That is something the Jews, and all of religion today, stumble over. His righteousness is offered as a free gift (Rom. 6:23). All we have to do is accept it, believe it.

Romans 3:24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

We are declared righteous freely or without a cause by his grace through the redemption (we are bought with a price, bought with the blood of Christ) that is in Christ Jesus. He paid the price for all of our sins. We deserve death, because we have all sinned against Him, but Christ died for us on our behalf.

Philippians 3:9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

We are found in Him, not because we are righteous in and of ourselves and our own works, but instead we are found in Christ “through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith.” We are found in Christ, because we have obtained His righteousness by faith. The “faith of Christ” does not mean that Christ had faith in God like we have faith in God. Christ doesn’t need faith, for He is God. Instead, it is speaking of the righteousness which is of or belonging to God that we receive by faith (by believing). The word “faith” can be translated as “faithfulness.” We know Christ was faithful unto death, even the death of the cross (Phil. 2:8). He accomplished what He set out to do. The faithfulness of Christ is the source of the righteousness of God. In other words, the source of righteousness is the cross. For Christ is our righteousness (1 Cor. 1:30). We do not obtain it by keeping or doing the works of the law. We obtain righteousness (the righteousness of God) when we believe in the finished work of our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.

When we believe that Jesus Christ died for all of our sins, was buried (He put our sins away by the sacrifice of Himself (Heb. 9:26)), and rose again the third day, then we are made the righteousness of God in Him (2 Cor. 5:21). Christ is our Mediator (1 Tim. 2:5). We obtain righteousness from God through His Son’s work on the cross. When we put our trust in what He has done for us by believing the gospel, God the Father then imputes (counts) His righteousness to us (Rom. 4:3-5).

Titus 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

Galatians 6:14 But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.

The Peace of God

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Philippians 4:6-7 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

When talking about peace with God and the peace of God, the Apostle Paul is addressing the saints (believers). While all believers obtain peace with God the very moment that we are saved, the peace of God is something that comes later in each of our lives as we each mature in our daily walk with the Lord.

Let’s first take a look at having peace with God. Romans 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. The moment we are saved by grace through faith (Eph. 2:8,9), or as this verse says here “being justified by faith,” we automatically have peace with God. We once were ungodly sinners, and enemies of God, but now through the work of the Lord Jesus Christ of dying for our sins while we were still sinners, we have now received the reconciliation (Rom. 5:11) and therefore, have peace with God. Paul says in Ephesians that Christ has reconciled both Jews and Gentiles unto God in one Body by the cross (Eph. 2:16).

And so now that we have peace with God, we can enjoy the peace of God as we walk in the Lord in our daily lives. Romans 5:2 says that we have “access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” Now that we are at peace with God, we can come boldly unto the “throne of grace (Heb. 4:16)” by faith and make our requests known unto Him (Phil. 4:6). When we make our requests known unto Him through prayer, does that mean that God will give you what you ask for? No. While He did tell the Jews under the Law that (John 16:24; Matt. 21:22), God does not tell us that for today. Instead, He promises to give us the peace of God!

Philippians 4:6-7 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

The words “Be careful” come from the Greek word, merimnáō. It means to “to be anxious about” or “take thought”. So he’s saying take thought for nothing or be anxious about nothing. But instead he says, “but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” Sometimes as humans we tend to over think some things and maybe even get worried (worked up) about things that were probably small problems to begin with, but we made it into a bigger problem than it really was. In other words, we get anxious, and that usually makes things worse. So, Paul is simply saying “take thought for nothing, but through praying we should just let our requests be made known unto Him, and everything will eventually work itself out.”

Why is that? Why should we “take thought for nothing; but in everything by prayer…let your requests be made known unto God?” Well, read verse 7. It says the peace of God shall keep (guard) our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. For we know that we are “complete in Him (Col. 2:10),” and that nothing can separate us from the love of Christ (Rom. 8:35-39). We are told in Colossians 3:15 to let the peace of God rule in our hearts and be thankful.

Colossians 3:15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.

Here Paul references the peace of God in connection with the one Body and that we are to be thankful. Whenever we pray, we should do it with thanksgiving! In Colossians, he tells us that we have put off the old man and have put on the new man (Col. 3:9,10). There is neither “Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised,…” in the Body. The one Body is the elect of God (Col. 3:12). We are all members of that one Body (1 Cor. 12:12,13). Therefore, we should bear with one another and forgive each other just as Christ has forgiven us (Col. 3:13). As we forgive other members of the Body just as Christ has forgiven us, and let the peace of God rule in our hearts, it helps us to remember and give thanks for what Christ has done not just for our own selves, but for the whole Body. He has reconciled both Jews and Gentiles in one Body by the cross (Eph. 2:16a). We all go through tough times and suffer, but knowing that we are all called into one Body we can enjoy the peace of God in our lives as we pray with thanksgiving (separately or together), letting our requests be made known unto Him. Knowing that the peace of God is there to guard our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus is more than enough to help us get through the hard times. We are all in this together. 1 Corinthians 12:26 And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it. Having the peace of God and knowing that the God of peace will be with us we can learn to be content in whatever state we find ourselves (Phil. 4:11), because Christ is there to give us strength do all things (Phil. 4:13). He is able to help us in the good and in the bad times.

Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

God has a plan and purpose for each one of us in how we each fit into His eternal purpose. We should simply just trust Him with our lives, just like when we first trusted in Him for our salvation (Eph. 1:13). Remember that God is in control! The peace of God will rule in our hearts when we simply trust that He is in control. For we know, according the the Scriptures, that everything works together for good to them that love God. The main thing is that GOD IS IN CONTROL! Trust in Him.

Romans 5:3-5 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

Ephesians 1:13-14 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

Ephesians 4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

For there is No Difference

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Galatians 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

There is no difference between the Jew or the Greek in the Dispensation of the Grace of God (Eph. 3:2). There is also no difference whether you are bond or free, male or female. “For we are all one in Christ Jesus (1 Cor. 12:12,13).” However, this wasn’t always the case. We read in Matthew that Christ commanded His apostles to go only to Jews, while He was on the earth. Also, Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision, not the uncircumcision.

When once there was a Difference

Matthew 10:5-6 These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

Matthew 15:24 But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

Romans 15:8 Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers:

Under the Law, the twelve apostles were sent out and commanded to only go unto the Jews, and not the Gentiles. Gentiles could still be saved, but they had to become a Jew. They had to be circumcised according to the covenant of circumcision (Acts 7:8; Gen. 17:9-14). Christ would later tell them in Matthew 28 to go to the nations, but after Israel was saved first. They needed to start in Jerusalem first (Acts 1:8). It was needful for the nation of Israel to be saved first, before they would go to the rest of the nations preaching the gospel of the kingdom, because they were to be a kingdom of priests (Ex. 19:5,6), who would cleanse the nations. They as a nation were to be a light unto the world. God had promised Abraham that He would make him a great nation and that all the families of the earth would be blessed (Gen. 12:1-3). That is, they would be blessed through his seed. Christ, being the Seed, would be their King and the twelve apostles would reign with Him on twelve thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel (Matt. 19:27,28).

Ephesians 2:11-12 Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:

Again, in time past (under the law) the Gentiles were called the uncircumcision, while the Jews were called the circumcision, which we read earlier that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision. He did not come to Gentiles, but to the Jews. They were without Christ, aliens from Israel, and strangers from the covenants. The covenants or oracles of God were given to Israel (Rom. 3:2). They were without hope and without God. But, all of this changed when Christ died on the cross for the sins of the world and revealed the mystery (secret) to the Apostle Paul. That is, the secret of the one Body, where there is no difference.

But Now

Ephesians 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

We are now brought near by His blood!

Ephesians 2:14-16 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:

The Lord Jesus Christ took down that middle wall that was between us (Jews and Gentiles). He had abolished all of the Old Testament ordinances that the law contained by nailing them to His cross (Col. 2:14). We no longer have to be physically circumcised or baptized with water. Instead, we are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands (that is, human hands). We also are baptized with Christ (not water) in baptism as well as risen with Him (Col. 2:11,12). This is speaking of our identification with Christ. By nailing the ordinances to His cross, Christ had made one new man (the Body of Christ), in order to reconcile both (Jew and Gentile) unto God in that one Body. For there is one Body in which we are all baptized into (Eph. 4:5; 1 Cor. 12:13; Gal. 3:27).

We read in Romans 3 that we are all sinners. “For by the law is the knowledge of sin (Rom. 3:20).” But, verse 21 continues by saying “But now.” There is some good news. Paul had just explained that there is “none righteous, no not one (Rom. 3:10)” and that we know that we are sinners because of the law. But now, the good news is that “the righteousness of God without the law [apart from the law] is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets.”

Romans 3:22-23 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

His righteousness has been offered unto all and conferred upon/granted to/awarded to all those that believe. “For there is no difference.” We have all sinned, and we all continue to come short of His glory, but God has offered eternal life as a free gift (Rom. 6:23; 3:24) to all. The sins of the whole world were paid for by our Savior Jesus Christ. All you have to do to receive that gift, is to just “believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shall be saved (Acts 16:31).” Believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross for all of your sins, was buried, and rose again the third day (1 Cor. 15:1-4). That is the gospel of your salvation (Eph. 1:13). God is no longer counting the world’s sins against them. That doesn’t mean that you’re saved yet. You have to believe the gospel in order for God’s righteousness to be imputed (counted) to you. When you believe this gospel, then you are made the righteousness of God in Him (2 Cor. 5:21) and have eternal life!