For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”
— Romans 4:2-3 —
S. W. | Asia
Beginning in Romans 3, Paul has been speaking to the Jews and demonstrating to them that justification by faith was not a new truth but was clearly established in the Old Testament. Why is this important? Because the gospel, in its content and application, never changes. Sinful men are only justified through faith, looking to a faithful God who saves. Paul uses Abraham, the Father of Israel, in this text to prove this very point. First, Paul considers if Abraham was justified by works, as some of the Judaizers and Pharisees might claim. The gospel, in its content and application, never changes. If he had a righteousness of his own he would be able to boast before men. The qualifier that Paul adds, “but not before God,” shows the foolishness of such self-righteousness. Second, Paul then settles the case with Scripture, by quoting Genesis 15:6. Abraham believed God’s promise of blessing through his seed, and this act of faith was credited to him as righteousness. So, he could not boast—instead, he fell on his face before God (Gen. 17:3). Ultimately, the promise to Abraham was fulfilled in Christ Jesus the Messiah, the Seed who would bless all the nations (Gal. 3:16). May we be encouraged to preach this one singular gospel of faith in Christ, until all the nations truly experience the blessings promised in Him! The gospel never changes—go today and tell someone this good news.
