Romans Part 13 – Romans 4:1-8
Verse 1
• “Abraham, our father” – The Jews claimed Abraham as their father – Luke 1:73, Acts 7:2, Rom 9:5.
• In verse 6 Paul speaks of David as well. David was also an important figure in Israel’s history – Matt 1:17, Mark 11:10. Paul I believe is using these two men to take away Israel’s boast, continuing what he did in chapter 3. John the Baptist and Jesus also did when dealing with the Pharisees – Matt 3:7-10, John 8:39. Abraham – not under law. David – under Law.
• “as pertaining to the flesh” – this is simply talking about Abrahams discovery while in the flesh.
Verse 2-3
• “if” – Paul has already showed no one is justified by works alone.
• “whereof to glory; but not before God” – Rom 3:23
• “For what saith the scripture?” – Gen 15:6
• What did Abraham believe? Nothing hints that he believed in Jesus Christ as Saviour – Gal 3:8. Only thing recorded in scripture that Abraham could’ve known – Gen 3:15.
Verse 4-5
• “him that worketh is the reward reckoned of debt” – If you do the work you are owed the reward - Exo 19:5-6, Duet 11:26-28, Psalm 7:8, Psalm 18:20-26.
• “That worketh not, but believeth” - Two things here, it’s not jut those who have faith but those who do no work. Those who have no faith in what they do and don’t try to establish their own righteousness (Rom 10:1,3). If it was just to those who believe then the Jews could’ve continued doing their works as long as they add faith. This is a good verse to refute Calvinism, faith isn’t a work.
• “Justifieth the ungodly” – Explained how God could do this in Rom 3:20-26.
• “Faith is counted for righteousness” – Not works
• Protestants will say that we are saved by faith apart from work but if someone doesn’t have works they were never saved. This is a contradiction and undoing what is said.
• Paul is worried about what you believe, doctrine, to tell whether or not you are saved – 1Cor 15:2,12-14.
James 2 vs Romans 4
• Luthers dilemma
• James 2:14-26 – Verse 24 clearly contradicts Rom 4:5.
• James points to Gen 22:9-10 as when Abraham was righteous and fulfilled Gen 15:6.
• Paul says Abraham was righteous at Gen 15:6.
• The man of faith always does what God says. Things changed in Abrahams life – Gen 17:10-14.
• How to reconcile James and Paul? – James was writing to the twelve tribe of Israel (James 1:1), James was ignorant of the mystery and never mentions the cross. James could’ve been written before Acts 15. James is applicable directly to those in a “kingdom offer” age. Paul was given a mystery that James was not – Rom 16:25, Eph 3:1-5, 8. 1Tim 1:16. Col 1:25-27, Gal 2:6-9.
Verse 6
• “David describes the blessedness of man whom God imputeth righteousness without works” – Notice that David does not understand the age of grace as revealed to paul, but simply describes the blessedness of such a state.
Verse 7-8
• quoting Psalms 32:1-2 – David did not have sins imputed even under law. When God imputes righteousness the law cannot condemn. David realized he was blessed but not why he was blessed – Psalm 51:16.
• David had sure mercies – Acts 13:34, 55:3, 2Sam 7:8-16, Psalm 89:1-4, 20-37
If you have any questions: My email - csb33@centurylink.net
