Romans Lesson 8

Introduction

A very pleasant good day to you and welcome to Let the Bible Speak. I hope that you have your Bible nearby and that you’ll be opening to the book of Romans, where today we’re going to be studying Romans chapter 4. A whole chapter, in fact, and so if you have your Bible and can read along with us, it’ll certainly make the lesson come more clear to you, I’m sure. Really, the story in Romans chapter 4 is concerning the salvation that is through Jesus Christ. How that we’re justified by the grace of God. Really, that’s one of the great doctrine of the New Testament. That man can be counted as though not guilty, acquitted of sin, made possible only by the grace of God, as he gave his only begotten Son to die in our place.

He died for the sins that we deserve to die for. By grace, we are saved. But really, to understand how we’re justified by by the grace of God is a subject about which uh controversy has surrounded it throughout the years. On the one hand, there were the Jews who thought that man could be justified by keeping the law, the law of Moses. On the other hand, some modern Christians claim that we’re justified by grace only. Neither of these are correct. In fact, somewhere in between the two is correct, because we are justified by the grace of God through faith. Not grace only, not faith only. But rather as the scripture says, God’s part is grace. He gave his only begotten son to die for us. Man’s part is faith.

1. Abraham, the Example of Justification by Faith

But even a faith that is willing to do what God said and the way God said do it. Now let’s read Romans chapter 4, verses 1 through 5, where the apostle in his inspired writing describes Abraham as the example of justification by faith. I’m reading verses 1 through 5. 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 the glory, but not before God. For what said the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. Now to him that worketh is 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.

To understand this text is to understand the context. This is a six section of verses that sometimes are misapplied because people do not understand the kind of works that are being referred to. Actually, the word works in these particular verses is referring to the kind described back in chapter three, verse twenty eight, just a few verses prior to it, where he was saying we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds or the works of the law. The context is describing a difference between the system of justification by works of the law of Moses. And as we pointed out in earlier lessons, how that the law served a purpose to make man aware that he’s a sinner. Man could not keep that law perfectly, and therefore he needed a Savior.

But we’re justified by faith apart from the works of the law. And now, what the apostle with that flow or line of thought is is saying is look at Abraham. Abraham lived even before the law of Moses was given. And Abraham was justified by faith. In fact, his faith was counted as righteousness. He is the example of justification by faith. The scripture that is quoted here in verse three is really quoted from a passage in Genesis chapter 15 and in verse 6. Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. And the whole flow of thought, the point is that under the works of the law, man could not be justified. Under works of the law, the reward would be of debt. Perfection, you see, is required.

And so in verse 4, when he says to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. Look at the contrast between these two systems. Under the works of the law, if a man kept it perfectly, he never violated the text.

He would deserve to have life. But man could not be saved by that means. All have sinned. Justification is apart from the works of the law, as verses 27 and 28 say, where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? Of works. Nay, but by the law of faith. Now that’s the thought you have to keep in mind as you’re reading on through chapter 4. He’s trying to address those who were Jews who were trying to say, Oh, we rest in the law. We we boast of our relationship with God. You remember back in Romans chapter 2 and verse 17 when he began to describe the Jew who was counting that he was having a special place in God’s kingdom because he was a Jew, because he had been given the law of Moses.

And throughout this, the apostles are saying, Well, the law, the law served a purpose that was a good purpose, and in fact, Jews had an advantage when they had that law, but we’re not saved by that law. It was bearing witness of a better way coming. It was as a shadow of the good things to come. Hebrews 10, verses 1 through 4 says. In fact, Jesus Christ is the means by which, and the only means by which there is eternal life, really a propitiation for our sins. Really, what we have now is how that under the system of grace through faith. What he’s saying here is that the reward is reckoned of grace. It is a gift. There’s a ransom provided for sin. Man still is imperfect.

Man still cannot keep the gospel even perfectly, never violating any of the commandments of God. His high standard is such, we need forgiveness. But in Jesus Christ, we have forgiveness. As verse 5 says, to him that worketh not but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. That’s interesting the word that is translated counted is from a Greek word, logizamai, that is found some eleven times in these few verses. And it’s translated counted, verse 3 and verse 5. It’s the same word translated reckoned of grace in verse 4, and in verse 6, imputed righteousness. The word imputed, reckoned, or counted. Literally, that word is an accounting term. One who owes a debt or has paid a debt, it may be credited to his account.

And so it is that what he’s talking about here is that we have credited to our account, forgiveness of sins. Imputed righteousness. Well, that’s a subject about which there’s been much debate. There are those who say, well, if we have the imputed righteousness of God or of Christ, then God can only see that righteousness and he doesn’t see anything that man does thereafter. Well, that isn’t what the text is saying either. In fact, uh, what it is simply saying is that man has credited to his account the forgiveness of sins or justification. He has the righteousness of God credited to his account. They’ll say that that God can never see what man does, regardless of whether he’s doing good or evil, is a take away man’s free will.

And of course, uh, the man doesn’t take away, or God doesn’t take away man’s free will. We’re still free moral agents. But in this context of thought, he is trying to say to us that now through Christ is the great gift of God’s grace. Through Christ can be forgiveness of sins. Do we deserve it? Absolutely not. But will God put that to our account? Yes. Though we do not deserve it, sins can be forgiven. But Abraham, the example of this. You see, it is later in this same text, uh, down in about verses 17 through about uh 21, where we begin to understand the kind of faith that Abraham had. It was the kind of faith that obeyed. Abraham had absolute trust that led him to obey God.

2. James Is Talking About the Works of Obedience

It wasn’t by faith only. There are those who have taken this passage and they want to array the word works, and they uh every time they see the word works, they think of it as always meaning the same thing, and it doesn’t in the Bible. Some have concluded that uh in the book of James, in James chapter 2, verses 14 through 26, he where he talks about faith without works is dead. There are those who have just said, well, there’s a contradiction in the Bible. James speaks about works being necessary, and Romans chapter 4, Paul says they are not necessary. But you see, the mistake being made is that James is talking about a different kind of works. James is talking about the works of obedience.

Whereas in Romans chapter 4, Paul is talking about the works of the law. In fact, it’s interesting that in James chapter 2, verses 21 through 24, he quotes the same passage that we’ve just read in Romans chapter 4 and verse 3, quoted from Genesis. Abraham believed God, was candid unto him for righteousness. But look at the James illustration of that verse. I’m reading James chapter 2, verses 21 through 24. Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seeest thou how faith wrought with his works. And by works was faith made perfect. And the scripture was fulfilled, which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness, and he was called the friend of God.

You see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. Happens to be the only place in the Bible where you’re going to find the three words put together, by faith only. And in James 2 24, it says that we’re justified not by faith only. Abraham is an illustration. The kind of faith Abraham had was the kind of faith that obeyed. Absolute trust in God. When God said, You take your son Isaac and offer him as a sacrifice, immediately he obeyed. He did not quibble with God or try to reason that there’s some other way that would be better. Rather, he just did what God said. Abraham believed that God can make the make possible that which seemingly was impossible to man.

He just simply did what God said. That’s the kind of faith that saves. Faith that saves is a faith that obeys. But our text of Romans 4, using Abraham as illustration, doesn’t contradict that thought. It’s a contrast between the works of the law of Moses that cannot save versus the system of salvation by grace through faith, that is the only means of salvation. We’re going to pause for a moment. When we come back, we’re going to read the rest of this chapter because indeed it all flows together to get the context in mind. And we’ll see how that those who follow the example of Abraham’s faith are the kind of people who are saved. You pause and stay with us, we’ll be back in just one minute.

As we continue our study in Romans chapter 4, the main point of this chapter is to confirm what had been stated in the closing words of chapter 3, especially chapter 3 and verse 28. When it said, Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. And then the chapter 4 begins by raising the question really, how does Abraham fit into this picture? Abraham, who is the father in the flesh of the Jewish nation or the Israelite nation. And yet he was justified by faith. In fact, the quotation from Genesis chapter 15 and verse 6 says he believed God and it was counted unto him or credited to his account for righteousness. And yet, as we’ll see, we continue in this chapter, he’s showing how that Abraham, who lived 400 years before the law of Moses was given, found justification by faith apart from the deeds of the law.

3. Not in Circumcision, but in Uncircumcision

You see how this really fits into the picture and answering a Jew who is saying, Oh, well, we have the law of Moses and we’re accounted as God’s children by keeping that law of Moses. He’s saying, No. Look at the difference between the law of Moses, a system that demanded perfect works, versus the system of salvation by grace through faith, a system that provided a ransom forgiveness of sins. One had no real forgiveness or taking away of sin, the other has forgiveness that is not deserved. Let’s continue our reading in Romans chapter 4, beginning in verse 6, and we’re going to read through verse 12, where he says, even as David also described the blessedness of the man unto whom God imputed 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. 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. 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 who also walk in the steps of that faith of our Father Abraham, which he had, being yet uncircumcised.

You see, the reading of the text follows along with what we’ve just been saying, how that not only did the scripture in Genesis 15, verse 6 describe Abraham as being his faith being counted for righteousness, but even David, about a thousand years before the coming of Jesus Christ in Psalm 32 and in verses 1 and 2 spoke about the blessedness of those whose sins are forgiven, of whom the Lord does not impute or put to the credit of their sin. What a wonderful blessing we have through Jesus Christ, that we can be acquitted of guilt, as though we never committed to sin. What a wonderful blessing is the grace of God. And yet it’s by grace through faith. And what the text is trying to show is that’s always been God’s way.

That even men who were counted as righteous before even the cross of Christ, they were counted righteous because they had a kind of faith, a faith like Abraham’s. But notice the flow of thought. When he says in verses 9 through 12, when did this blessedness come upon Abraham? How was it reckoned, verse 10 particularly? And then the following question, was it when he was in circumcision? Or before he was circumcised. Now, if you go back to Genesis chapter 17, where circumcision was then ordained by God of Abraham and of his lineage to follow, you notice they answered the question as corroborated here in Romans chapter 4 and verse 10, he received the sign of circumcision while he was yet uncircumcised. What’s the point of that? Well, to the Jew, who’s been demanding that his circumcision was a sign of his covenant relationship with God and a proof of his salvation.

It answers that through Jesus Christ, circumcision is not that important. In fact, Galatians chapter 5 and verse 6 says circumcision availeth nothing, neither uncircumcision, but faith which worketh by love. A faith that obeys. Loving God will keep his commandments. You see, what this really text is really saying as in verse 12, all who believe like Abraham are going to be justified like Abraham. It’s the kind of faith that absolutely trusts and obeys God. Not those who are just Jews who kept the law of Moses. The system of the law of Moses won’t save. If it did, Abraham would be left out. Because he lived before that law of Moses, though he was under a law of God, he didn’t keep the law of Moses, and when he was counted as a righteous man, it was before and without even circumcision that was that was commanded under the law.

4. Children of God by Faith in Christ Jesus

What kind of faith did Abraham have that we must have? In Galatians chapter 3, in verses 26 through 29, the scripture says, For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. Now who? The next verse answers, for as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek. There is neither bond nor free. There’s neither male nor female, for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you be Christ, then are ye Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise. Those who are in Christ are the seed of Abraham, saved like Abraham, of the family of Abraham, who would be the father of nations, many nations. How? Through Jesus Christ. While he is the Father in the flesh of the Israelite nation, he is the spiritual father of those who walk in the steps of faith like Abraham’s.

Interestingly, though, in this passage, it describes how we become the children of God by faith, as many of you as been baptized into Christ. It’s interesting that today there are many people who describe how we’re saved by grace through faith, but they deny baptism as essential. They will describe how that we ought to repent of sins, all right, and we need to confess Jesus Christ, but somehow they come to the step of baptism and they say, oh, well, that’s a work, and we don’t need to do any works. Well, it’s no more a meritorious work than his repentance. No more a meritorious work than his confession. It is the commandment of God and therefore a work of faith. In fact, he says, as many of you as have been baptized into Christ, that’s how you get into him, it’s at that time you put on Christ.

Those who’ve never been immersed into the death of Jesus Christ, have not the blood of Christ to wash away their sins. It’s the only way I know that the Bible says how we reach the precious blood of Christ that is the ransom for our sin. You see, we raise the question, what kind of works save? Well, the answer is quite obvious from the New Testament. Not meritorious deeds, not the deeds of the law of Moses, not the kind of works of righteousness which we have done, Titus chapter 3 and verse 5 would say, or even as Ephesians chapter 2, verses 8 and 9, when it’s describing how we’re saved by grace through faith, and verse 9 says, not of works, lest any man should boast. Who can say we deserve the death of Jesus Christ in our behalf?

5. The Kind of Faith Abraham Had

Not of any works we’ve done, deserve the grace of God that gave his only begotten Son. From God’s part, grace alone, provided the means of salvation. But my friend, don’t confuse those passages as though it says we don’t have anything to do. If we’re going to be saved by the kind of faith Abraham had, and that’s what Romans chapter 4 says, verse 12 says, He’s the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised. What kind of works did Abraham have? He obeyed. Hebrews chapter 11, for example, in verses 11 and 12, that great chapter describing different characters of faith, and you can go through Hebrews 11, and in every example of faith that it gives, there is an act of obedience.

By faith, Noah, being warned of God, moved with fear and prepared an ark for the saving of his house. By faith, Hebrews 11, verse 11, through faith, Sarah herself received strength to conceive seed and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised. Therefore, spraying there even of one and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, as the sandwich is by the seashore, innumerable. Well, God made a promise to Abraham and to Sarah. It was twenty five years later, before Isaac was born. And yet they still trusted that God’s word would be fulfilled. Even after Isaac was born. Look at Hebrews 11, verses 17, and the scripture says through 19, by faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac, and he that had the prom had received the promises, offered up his only begotten son, of whom it was said that in Isaac shall thy seed be called, accounting that God was able to raise him up even from the dead, from whence also he received him in a figure.

Abraham believed that if even if Isaac was put to death, God could raise him from the dead. And so that’s the kind of trust that says, whether I understand how God’s going to do it or why God’s going to do it, I’m going to do what he said. That’s the kind of faith Abraham had. That’s the kind of faith we need to have. In fact, let’s read back in Romans 4, verses 13 to the end of the chapter, and you see this is the line of thought that’s pursued. Reading Romans 4, verse 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 if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect.

Because the law worketh wrath, for where no law is, there is no transgression. Therefore it is a 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 who him he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead and calleth those things which be not as though they were, 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. 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 wound.

He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strong in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully persuaded that what he had promised he was able also to perform. Therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness. 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 offenses, was raised again for our justification. You see how the flow of thought continues, how that Abraham, he was not justified by the works of the law, but by the kind of faith that did what God said. What a beautiful thought. He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief.

Verse 20. But in verse 21, being fully persuaded that what he had promised, he was able also to perform. Abraham’s absolute trust staggered not that God was able to keep his promise. But you know what that really says is? Abraham obeyed. There were some works, not meritorious deeds, not perfect action. He had his faults. But he always trusted in God and did God’s will. That’s the kind of faith we must have. And you see, faith is not a meritorious act, but it must obey.

Conclusion

The scripture says these rulers of the synagogue believed on Jesus, but they would not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue, for they love the praise of men more than the praise of God. That’s the kind of faith that is without obedience, and that’s a dead faith. Do you just believe only and you’ve never really come to repent and confess your faith that Jesus is the Son of God? Have you been immersed or baptized into the death of Jesus Christ? Have you put on Christ? Listen to Colossians chapter 2 and in verse 12. Where the scripture there speaks how that even we are baptized or buried into the death of Jesus Christ, buried with him in baptism. Wherein also ye have risen with him.

How? Through the faith of the operation of God who hath raised him from the dead. When we truly believe that God is the giver of life, then our act will say, Lord, what will you have me to do? On the day of Pentecost, Acts 2 and verse 38, they were commanded to repent and be baptized. That’s what God says. And that’s a work of faith when you do what God says in God’s way. It’s not a meritorious deed. It’s simply saying, Lord, I trust in you completely, whether I understand why or not, I’ll do what you say. Have you obeyed that way? It’s the kind of faith that’ll save. Until our next study, we bid that the grace and peace of our Lord will be with you.