Romans 4

Romans 4:3-4

Rom. 4:3, 4. “What saith the Scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.” The apostle lays stress upon the word counted, or imputed. If he had had a righteousness, that is, of his own, upon the account of which the reward was of proper debt, it would not have been expressed in this manner, as he evidently argues in the following verses. Abraham’s believing God was not righteousness, but was only imputed for it. It was of God’s mere grace looked upon as supplying the room of righteousness.

Rom. 4:12

Romans 4:12

Rom. 4:12. “And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham,” etc. In the foregoing verse it is set forth how Abraham is the father of those that are uncircumcised, if they have the faith of Abraham. In this verse the apostle declares that he also is the father of the circumcised, who have not only or barely circumcision, but also walk in the steps of the faith of their father Abraham. So that, put both verses together, this is what the apostle declares, that Abraham received circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of faith, which he had being yet uncircumcised; whereby God sealed to him the promise he made to him, that he should be the father of all such as should believe as he had done, and only to such, whether they were circumcised or not, that he should be the father of the uncircumcised Gentiles, that should believe as he had done, and the father of no more of the circumcised Jews than should believe as he had done.

Rom. 5:13-14