Romans 4

Romans 4:1

What shall we then say that Abraham, our father as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?

There is but one way of Justification: as it was with Abraham, who was our father according to the flesh, so it is with us; and how will you then say, that the case stood with Abraham? had he no benefit by his Works?

Romans 4:2

For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.

Surely, I must needs yield the case alike in all; and, as for Abraham, therefore if he were justified by the merit of his Works, he had cause to glory in himself, and not in God; but he never sought to glory in himself, but in God only; and therefore he was justified not by Works, but by Faith.

Romans 4:3

For what saith the Scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.

For what saith the Scripture? Abraham believed God in his promises, and that Faith of his apprehending Christ, which was promised, was accounted unto him by God for Righteousness; so as Abraham, upon his belief, was reputed no less righteous, than if he had fulfilled the Law.

Romans 4:4

Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.

Now, this reputing Just must needs be an act of favour and grace; whereas, to him, that earneth ought by Working, the recompence is given, not out of grace and favour, but as of due debt. IV. 6, 7. 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. And David also, whose authority is justly sacred amongst you, so describes our Righteousness, as one that meant to exclude Works from the power of Justifying: for, when he would set forth the blessedness of a man justified before God, he describes him by the imputing of Righteousness without Works; Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; and not, Blessed are they whose good works are many and great.

Romans 4:9

Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision

only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness. That ye may well see this righteousness, and blessedness, is not by Works, but by Faith; consider, that circumcision is the first work that is required under the Law, and that this blessedness belonged to Abraham not upon his circumcision but before, even in his uncircumcision: for we say, that Abraham’s Faith was accounted to him for righteousness.

Romans 4:10

How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision.

But when, and in what estate, was it so accounted to him? when he was circumcised, or while he was uncircumcised? Ye are easily able to satisfy yourselves in this: and know, that it was not when he was circumcised, but long before, even when he was uncircumcised. IV. 11, 12. 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: 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, which he had being yet uncircumcised. And he received this outward mark and sign of the Sacrament of Circumcision, as a seal and full confirmation of that Faith which he had before, while he was uncircumcised: God would therefore have him justified by Faith before he was circumcised, that he might be the Father of all that are Faithful, though uncircumcised; that his example might shew, that righteousness is and may be so imputed unto them also, without any outward circumcision: And that he might be the Father of the Circumcised, of those, I mean, which are not only outwardly and formally circumcised, but truly and inwardly; and who live the life of that Faith, which Abraham had, being yet uncircumcised.

Romans 4:13

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.

For the promise that was made to Abraham, of the inheritance of the land of Canaan, by which a better inheritance was figured, was not made to Abraham, because had merited it by keeping the Law; but because he had believed God, and had obtained the Righteousness of Faith.

Romans 4:14

For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect:

For if they, which trust to the fulfilling of the Law, be heirs of the spiritual blessings of God, and so the inheritance come

Romans 4:15

Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.

Because, howsoever to those, which are upright and perfect, the Law might and would shew the true way of life; yet to those, that are sinful and corrupt, as now all mankind is, it doth nothing, but aggravate their evil condition: for, while it shews them what they ought to do, and gives them not strength to do it, it impleads them guilty before the Judgment Seat of God; since that, having the knowledge of our duty, and not performing it, we run into greater condemnation: for, if that man sin, which is not acquainted with the written Law of God, his sin must needs be much less than his, who doth knowingly and wilfully offend. IV. 16, 17. 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, (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. Therefore, since if the inheritance were by Works Faith were of no use and the promises to no purpose, I do justly conclude, that it is of Faith, that it might be of God’s grace, and not of our earning; and that the promise might stand in full force to all the seed of faithful Abraham, not only to the Jews, which stand upon the privilege of the Law, but to all those of Jews and Gentiles, which follow the Faith of Abraham, who is the Father of all us Believers, in what nation soever; as it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations: the father, I say, of us all, not natural but spiritual: not in respect of flesh, but in respect of that interest in that God in whom he believed, confidently relying upon the promise of that God, who, he well knew, was able to quicken the dead, and, by his mighty word, is able to make those things to be which are not.

Romans 4:18

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.

Who, when there was no cause or reason at all, in nature, why he should hope, yea, when all things seemed to cross the possibility of any hope, yet even then believed that he should have the honour of being the father of many nations, according to that word which God had said unto him, That his seed should be as the stars of heaven.

Romans 4:19

And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about a hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah’s womb.

And, being strong and vigorous in Faith, he regarded not the impotency of his own body, which was, as it were, dead in respect of any desires or powers of generation, being now about a hundred years old; neither yet the deadness of Sarah’s womb, which was long before past the ordinary possibility of conception.

Romans 4:22

And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.

And therefore, this Faith of his in the truth of God’s promises was accepted of God, in lieu of perfect Righteousness. IV. 23, 24. 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; Now this case was not intended to be Abraham’s alone; neither was it recorded of him only, that his Faith was so imputed to him; But it is meant to be extended unto all us, the sons of faithful Abraham, to whom there shall be the like imputation of Faith to Righteousness, if we do truly believe in that God, who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead:

Romans 4:25

Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.

Who was delivered to death, for the full satisfaction for all our sins, in that he paid for us that debt which we were never able to have discharged; and was raised up from the dead for our Justification, in that hereby he hath fully declared himself to have conquered death and hell, and to have atchieved that great work of reconciling God the Father unto us.