Abraham Believed God and God Counted It as Righteousness
(Romans 4:1-25)

Paul wrote his letter to the believers in Rome to help them understand something very important about how people are made right with God. He pointed them back to Abraham, the great father of the Jewish people. Abraham lived hundreds of years before the law of Moses was given, yet God called him righteous. How did that happen?

Paul asked the Roman believers, "What shall we say about Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh?" He wanted them to think carefully. If Abraham was made right with God by his good works, then he would have something to boast about. But Paul said that before God, no one can boast. The Scripture tells us plainly: Abraham believed God, and that belief was counted to him as righteousness.

Paul explained the difference between working and believing. When someone works, they get paid wages as something they earned. But when someone does not work but instead believes in God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is counted as righteousness. This is the gift of God, not something we earn by being good enough.

Paul also reminded them of King David, who wrote about the blessing of forgiveness. David said, "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." David understood that righteousness comes through forgiveness, not through perfectly keeping the law.

But Paul wanted the Romans to see another important truth. Abraham was counted righteous before he was circumcised, not after. Circumcision was a sign that came later. So Abraham is the father of all who believe, whether they are circumcised or not. The promise that Abraham would be the father of many nations came through his faith, not through the law.

Paul taught that if the inheritance came through the law, then faith would be empty and the promise would be void. But the law brings wrath, and where there is no law, there is no transgression. So the promise depends on faith, so that it may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all of Abraham's offspring—not only those who follow the law but also those who share the faith of Abraham. Abraham is the father of us all who believe.

Abraham's faith was not weak. He considered his own body, which was as good as dead since he was about a hundred years old, and he considered the deadness of Sarah's womb. Yet he did not waver in unbelief. He grew strong in his faith, giving glory to God. He was fully convinced that God was able to do what He had promised. That is why his faith was counted to him as righteousness.

But here is the most exciting part. Paul said these words were not written only for Abraham. They were written for us too. Righteousness will be counted to us who believe in God, who raised from the dead our Lord Jesus. Jesus was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification. We are made right with God the same way Abraham was—by believing God's promise. Faith is the key that opens the door to God's righteousness.