Daily Scripture Reading Romans 4:1-22

For most of my lifetime, churches have taught that in order to be saved, you have to ask Jesus into your heart or have a relationship with Jesus. However, that is not the language the Bible uses. Nowhere does the Bible describe salvation using those terms.

In today’s passage we will see the concept of belief several times and learn that belief is the concept we should focus on when we tell people how to be saved.

The third chapter of Romans states that no one is good and all have sinned. However, Jesus redeemed us which means we have been declared innocent, not because we earned it, but because innocence was given to us as a gift.

Rom. 4:1 ¶ What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, has found?

Rom. 4:2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about—but not before God!

Rom. 4:3 For what does the Scripture say? “ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS COUNTED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS.”

This is a quotation from Genesis 15:6. Abraham was childless, and was old enough that having a child was appearing less and less likely. However, Yahweh promised that Abraham would have descendants as numerous as the stars of the sky. Despite the unlikeliness of that happening because of Abraham’s age, Abraham believed Yahweh’s promise, and since he believed, Yahweh considered Abraham to be righteous.

Righteousness is the idea of being correct or innocent. Abraham was considered righteous because of his belief.

For most of my lifetime, churches have taught that in order to be saved, you have to ask Jesus into your heart or have a relationship with Jesus. That is not the language the Bible uses. Over and over again, the Bible mentions belief as the key to salvation. When we evangelize, we must make sure non-Christians understand what it is they need to believe in order to be saved.

Rom. 4:4 Now to the one who works, his wage is not counted according to grace, but according to what is due.

Rom. 4:5 But to the one who does not work, but believes upon Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness,

Notice the word “believes”.

Rom. 4:6 just as David also speaks of the blessing on the man to whom God counts righteousness apart from works:

Rom. 4:7 “BLESSED ARE THOSE WHOSE LAWLESS DEEDS HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN,

AND WHOSE SINS HAVE BEEN COVERED.

Rom. 4:8 BLESSED IS THE MAN WHOSE SIN THE LORD WILL NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT.”

This is a passage from Psalm 32. David wrote about the misery of concealing sin in contrast to the blessedness of confessing the sin and receiving forgiveness.

Rom. 4:9 ¶ Therefore, is this blessing on the circumcised, or on the uncircumcised also? For we say, “FAITH WAS COUNTED TO ABRAHAM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS.”

One of the huge debates in 1st century Christianity was whether Gentiles need to be circumcised and obey the Law of Moses in order to be saved. Paul was asking if Abraham was circumcised or uncircumcised when God credited him with righteousness.

God credited Abraham with righteousness before he had any children. According to Genesis 16:15, Abraham was 86 years old when Ishmael was born. Genesis 17 tells us Abraham was circumcised when he was 99 years old. Abraham was considered righteous while he was uncircumcised; therefore, Gentiles do not need to be circumcised in order to be saved.

Rom. 4:10 How then was it counted? While he was circumcised, or uncircumcised? Not while circumcised, but while uncircumcised;

Rom. 4:11 and he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while uncircumcised, so that he might be the father of all who believe without being circumcised, that righteousness might be counted to them,

Notice the word “sign”. Circumcision came after he was declared righteous and was a sign of his righteousness, not a step towards righteousness.

Look at the phrase “all who believe without being circumcised”. This assumes circumcision is not necessary to be saved.

Once again we see the word “believe”.

Rom. 4:12 and the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also follow in the steps of the faith of our father Abraham which he had while uncircumcised.

The faith of Abraham refers to Abraham believing God’s promise.

Rom. 4:13 ¶ For the promise to Abraham or to his seed that he would be heir of the world was not through the Law, but through the righteousness of faith.

The word “promise” refers to the promise in Genesis 15:5 that Abraham would have many descendants.

Rom. 4:14 For if those who are of the Law are heirs, faith has been made empty and the promise has been abolished;

If only Jews inherit salvation, then the promise in Genesis 15:5 is empty.

Rom. 4:15 for the Law brings about wrath, but where there is no law, there also is no trespass.

Rom. 4:16 ¶ For this reason it is by faith, in order that it may be according to grace, so that the promise will be guaranteed to all the seed, not only to those who are of the Law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all—

Salvation is by faith, so that all descendants of Abraham might be saved, not just those who are descendants of Israel, Abraham’s grandson.

Rom. 4:17 as it is written, “A FATHER OF MANY NATIONS HAVE I MADE YOU”—in the presence of Him whom he believed, even God, who gives life to the dead and calls into being that which does not exist.

This is a quotation of Genesis 17:5. Abraham was the father of many nations, not just the father of the Israelites.

Notice again the word “believed”.

Rom. 4:18 In hope against hope he believed, so that he might become a father of many nations according to that which had been spoken, “SO SHALL YOUR SEED BE.”

Think about the phrase “in hope against hope”. At the time Abraham was told he would have many descendants, he had no children and was reaching the age where having children seemed unlikely.

Look at the word “believed”. Despite the unlikeliness of having children, Abraham believed that God would do as He promised.

Once again we see the importance of belief. Belief is a core component of faith and salvation.

Rom. 4:19 And without becoming weak in faith he contemplated his own body, now as good as dead since he was about a hundred years old, and the deadness of Sarah’s womb;

Rom. 4:20 yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God,

Rom. 4:21 and being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able also to do.

Verses 20 and 21 define faith and belief. Abraham was fully assured that God would give him many descendants, even though at that point in time Abraham was childless.

Rom. 4:22 Therefore IT WAS ALSO COUNTED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS.

Abraham was considered righteous because he believed God’s promise.

For most of my lifetime, churches have taught that in order to be saved, you have to ask Jesus into your heart or have a relationship with Jesus. However, that is not the language the Bible uses. Over and over again, the Bible mentions belief as the key to salvation. When we evangelize, we must make sure non-Christians understand what it is they need to believe in order to be saved.

How well does your church explain the necessity of believing in Jesus in order to be saved?

What does it mean to believe in Jesus?

What do you need to change about how you present salvation in light of today’s passage?

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“Scripture quotations taken from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com.”