Romans 4 Devotional
by Pastor Mark Hudson

After Paul discussed the grace of God in the gospel at the end of chapter 3, he stated that God’s righteousness is apart from the law. Paul even posed the question in 3:31, “Do we then overthrow the law by this faith?” Paul may feel a need to explain how a person is justified. Paul uses Abraham, the great patriarch of Genesis. He is clearly counted as a man of faith so what better example for Paul to make His case?

Paul’s argument begin in verse 3, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness” quoting Genesis 15:6. Paul states that what he is preaching as “his” gospel is what Moses was preaching in the first five books of the Old Testament. Paul then goes on to quote Psalms 32:1-2 saying in verse 6, “just as David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from work. . . .” Paul is emphatic that while the gospel is new in one sense, the gospel is not new since Moses first preached the gospel in Genesis through Deutoronomy.

One of the difficulties Paul and the apostles faced is the issue of circumcision. Circumcision is the mark of the covenant for Old Testament believers. This was given to males 8 days after their birth. Paul is opposed to viewing circumcision as shorthand for keeping the law as the way to be righteous before God. Circumcision, though not originally, stood for keeping laws, obeying rules, and contributing to one’s righteousness before God for Paul’s opponents. This was a deadly (spiritually speaking) combination to Paul. He was not against a person getting circumcised. He was against the idea that a sinner could do anything, contribute any good work, add something from one’s own hand to save one’s eternal soul. First century Judaism, or at least some of them, taught that keeping the law, was THE way to achieve righteousness.

Paul stresses that Abraham was declared righteous before he was circumcised. Therefore he received righteousness by faith. And that fact opens the door to the Gentiles to believe. Verse 11 gives the reason. “The purpose was to make him the father of all who believe without being circumcised, so that righteousness would be counted to them as well. . . .” In this way, God was both choosing a nation to bless but He was also opening a way for the Gentiles to come to His Messiah.

In verse 13ff, Paul reaffirms that keeping the law as a way to achieve salvation is against receiving grace by faith. If keeping the law is the correct way to achieve God’s righteousness this precludes all non-Jews. So in verse 16, Paul makes it clear that if the promise rests on grace, any who believe (i.e. “who share the faith of Abraham”) are able to be included in the faith.
Paul continues this theme in v. 23, “But the words “it was counted to him” were not written for his sake alone, but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord . . .” Paul can’t say it enough that we are saved by grace through faith. Paul is only saying what the Old Testament writers were teaching. No person can add good works to be saved from God’s wrath. Christ’s death is not insufficient as if He needed some good works to add to His death on the cross. The only way any person can be saved is by God’s grace. The only person who could earn His own salvation is the only One who did not need to be saved in the first place.

God has always wanted us to look away from ourselves for His salvation. In Genesis 6, they were to look to the ark to be saved. In Geneseis 15, Abraham looked at the stars and believed. In Leviticus, the Israelites were to look at the innocent animals that died in their place. In Numbers 21:4ff, the people had to look away from themselves toward the bronze serpent. God’s people have always looked to someone or something else for help. We are commanded to look backwards to the Messiah who already came. In the Old Testament they were commanded to look in the future for the coming Messiah. They were never told to look within for hope since “the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it” as Jeremiah 17:9 reminds us.
Paul has an international or worldwide vision for the gospel. He reasons that the only way the gospel can reach all nations, tribes, and tongues if our salvation is by grace received by faith. Abraham is “the father of all who believe without being circumcised” in 4:11. Another way to put that phrase is “the father of all who believe without thinking they need to add good works to their faith.” We are saved by faith alone but faith that is never alone. Good works always follow faith. Our faith never saves us. Faith cannot save. Only the power of God can reorient the soul from self to God. Faith is only the way access such power. And believing God is what Abraham did: He simply believed God. He didn’t sacrifice an animal, serve another person. Abraham simply believed.
Holy Father, Pure Son of God, Glorious Holy Spirit we come to You wondering if we will ever grasp the glory of Your gospel. The gospel is so profound yet simple at the same time. Holy Spirit, break down our pride and our sinful heart so You can build us up to be truly Your people. We long to understand the gospel in a deeper, more profound way so our lives will honor Your death, burial, resurrection, and ascension. We pray this in the strong name of Jesus Christ. Amen.