Why Good Works Won’t Save You: The Radical Faith Lesson of Romans 4

Romans chapter 4 is a pivotal part of Paul's letter to the Romans, where he explains the principle of justification by faith using Abraham as a foundational example. This chapter is critical in understanding Paul’s message about how believers are made righteous before God—not through works or adherence to the law, but through faith alone. Let's break it down section by section to grasp the depth of Paul's argument.

1. Justification by Faith, Not Works (Romans 4:1–8)

• In the first few verses, Paul asks, “What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, discovered in this matter?” (Romans 4:1). Paul is addressing Jewish readers who regard Abraham as a prime example of someone who was righteous. But Paul challenges the assumption that Abraham’s righteousness came from his obedience or his works.
• Instead, Paul references Genesis 15:6, where it says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness” (Romans 4:3). Here, Paul argues that it was not Abraham’s works that made him righteous; rather, it was his faith in God’s promise.
• Paul then reinforces this by contrasting the idea of "working for wages" with "receiving a gift." When someone works, they earn a wage, but Abraham didn’t earn righteousness; he received it as a gift because he trusted in God.
• Paul also quotes David from Psalm 32, where David speaks of the blessing of having sins forgiven by God—a blessing that comes not from works but from God’s grace and mercy.

2. Faith Precedes Circumcision (Romans 4:9–12)

• Next, Paul addresses the role of circumcision, which was a crucial marker of Jewish identity. He asks whether the blessing of righteousness is only for the circumcised (Jews) or for the uncircumcised (Gentiles) as well.
• Paul points out that Abraham was declared righteous before he was circumcised (Genesis 15:6 happens before Genesis 17). This means that circumcision was a sign of the righteousness that he had already received through faith, not a means of earning it.
• In essence, Paul is making the case that faith is open to everyone—Jew and Gentile alike—and that Abraham is the “father” of all who believe, regardless of their ethnic or cultural backgrounds. This challenges the Jewish understanding that circumcision and law-keeping were essential for righteousness.

3. The Promise Comes by Faith (Romans 4:13–17)

• Paul then moves to the promise that God made to Abraham—that he would be the father of many nations (Genesis 17:4–5) and that all nations would be blessed through him (Genesis 12:3).
• He explains that this promise wasn’t fulfilled through the law, but through the righteousness that comes by faith. Since the law came hundreds of years after Abraham, the promise could not have depended on the law.
• Paul highlights that if inheritance of God’s promise depended on the law, faith would be meaningless and the promise ineffective because the law brings judgment, not blessing (Romans 4:15).
• Through this, Paul shows that the promise rests on God’s grace and is accessible to everyone who believes, making Abraham the spiritual father of all believers (Romans 4:16–17).

4. Abraham’s Faith as a Model for All Believers (Romans 4:18–25)

• In these closing verses, Paul describes the strength of Abraham’s faith. Despite the physical impossibility of having a child at his advanced age and Sarah’s barrenness, Abraham believed that God could do the impossible.
• “Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed” (Romans 4:18). Abraham’s unwavering faith became a model of the kind of faith that justifies. Paul emphasizes that this faith was “credited to him as righteousness.”
• Finally, Paul connects Abraham’s story to Christians, explaining that these words were written not only for Abraham’s sake but also for ours. Just as Abraham believed in God’s promise, believers today are called to believe in Jesus Christ, who was “delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification” (Romans 4:25).

Key Themes in Romans 4

• Justification by Faith Alone: Paul emphasizes that righteousness is credited through faith, not by works or law-keeping. This is a foundational doctrine for Christian faith, signifying that salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone.
• Abraham as the Father of Faith: Abraham’s faith, which predates the law and circumcision, serves as a model for all believers—Jew and Gentile alike. His story demonstrates that God’s promise is based on grace, not on human achievement or adherence to rituals.
• God’s Promise and Power: Abraham’s faith was in a God who brings life out of death, symbolizing the resurrection power of God that is also manifest in Jesus’ resurrection, which is the basis for Christian hope and justification.

Practical Applications for Believers

1. Faith Over Works: Just as Abraham was justified by faith, believers today are called to trust in Christ for righteousness rather than relying on good deeds or adherence to religious rituals.
2. Unity in Faith: Paul’s teaching here underscores that faith, not ethnic background or religious rites, unites us as children of Abraham and partakers in God’s promise.
3. Trust in God’s Promises: Abraham’s example encourages believers to have faith in God’s promises, even when circumstances seem impossible. This faith in God’s ability to bring life out of death is foundational for Christian hope in the resurrection.

Closing Prayer

Abba Father, in the name of Jesus, thank You for the gift of faith and the example of Abraham, who believed Your promises against all odds. Help us to embrace faith over works, to rest in Your grace, and to trust in the resurrection power of Christ for our justification. As we walk by faith, strengthen us to be witnesses of Your promises to the world. In the almighty name of Jesus, Amen.