“For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, which was counted to him as righteousness.” Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness, just as David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works: “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin.”
Romans 4:3-8
Abraham was a man who lived 2000 years before Paul wrote this letter to the church in Rome. He was the first of the Jewish patriarchs and lived 600 years before the Law to Moses. Paul’s main point here is that faith existed before the Law and proved that his doctrine of salvation by faith alone was not new. But instead, it was the only way of salvation since sin entered the world.
The scripture Paul refers to is Genesis 15:6, which states, “And he believed in the LORD, and he counted it to him for righteousness.”
Going back to verse two, Paul argues, “For if works justified Abraham, he has something to boast about, but not before God.” According to this argument, being justified by works means he has merited his salvation through good works. The statement is correct if good works could justify man, but sin has tainted all his works. Man has nothing to boast about before God. Therefore, as a man, Abraham could not be justified by works and could not boast before God. Instead, he could only stand before God condemned as a sinner unless God justified him.
Paul is turning to the scriptures, which ends all arguments. Abraham believed God, and God credited it to him as righteousness for no other reason. We know Abraham was a sinner and sinned against God many times. But as is true in every case of genuine belief, the Holy Spirit enlightened the mind and heart of Abraham to recognize the true and only God and enabled Abraham to respond in faith, which God credited as righteousness.
The phrase “credited as” is an economic and legal term in Greek with the meaning of crediting something to another’s account. Abraham came to God in belief and it was credited to him as righteousness. In this grace and mercy of God, we see the heart of God’s redemptive focus of both the Old and New Testaments.
According to God’s purposes, Abraham was chosen not because of who he was or any greatness about him. Instead, it was because of who God was and is. Faith is the channel through which God works His redeeming grace.
Paul explains what was true about Abraham’s faith is true about every believer’s faith. “Now, to the one who works, his wage is not credited as a favor but as what is due. But his faith is credited as righteousness to the one who does not work but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly.” (Romans 4:4–5) Paul explains that if salvation were by works, it would be due us; just as a wage is due for work rendered, the same would be true if our works justified us. Paul states in these two verses that saving faith is completely separate from any human effort. Faith, being required for salvation, has no inherent power to save. The power of salvation is the power of God’s redemptive grace alone, through the atoning work of Jesus Christ on the cross.
Consider the word ‘believed’, which means to steady oneself by leaning on something. Faith cannot be simply an intellectual acknowledgment but must include moral action and confidence.
So, the next time you base your salvation on following a list of do’s and don’ts, please, remember this scripture. Hebrews 11:6 “And without faith, it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.”