In this episode, I walk through Romans 4:1-5. Paul is going to use the forefather of the Jewish people, Abraham, to show the importance of faith. Paul is going to show that Abraham was justified because of his faith not because of his good works. This passage will be interesting for us to understand how foundational faith is to both the Old Testament and the New Testament.

“What then shall we say was gained by Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God.” Verses 1-2

This is a big deal for Paul to use Abraham as an example of faith because of his role and important to the Jewish religion. This goes to show that Paul believed that the Old Testament, Jewish God is the same God of the New Covenant. As a result of Paul’s belief that this is the same God, he moves with confidence to show Abraham as an example of faith. He shows that Abraham could not stand before God boasting of his own works for he was justified because of faith not works.

“For what does the Scripture say? ‘Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.’” Verse 3

If it wasn’t already a big deal for Paul to be using Abraham as an example, he goes a step farther by referencing Genesis 15:6 from the Old Testament. Paul is confidently making a case for faith by using Old Testament examples to add value to his present day claims. The Jews could not argue with the covenant that God made with Abraham. As Abraham was counted as righteous because of his belief, anyone who believes today will be counted as righteous before God.

“Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due.” Verse 4

If our works justified us, salvation would not be a gift but rather a paycheck. For if we had works good enough, God would just be paying us what he owes us like a worker who has earned their wages. Paul is not implying that this is possible but just showing that salvation is not like a worker collecting his wages.

“And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness,” Verse 5

We are not worker who are earning our wages, Paul shows that we are justified simply by believing in the One who justified the ungodly. This is the essence of the New Testament teachings about salvation. It is consistently taught that mankind is hopeless left to their own but God made a way for mankind to be restored to a right relationship with Him which is made available through faith in Jesus. The temptation for people in the Old Testament and New Testament is to try and earn our way to Heaven which Paul just showed is not possible. As Paul showed previously, humanity is totally separated from God because of sin but he has now shown that humanity is offered hope through Jesus which is to be received through faith.

In summary, Romans 4:1-5 shows the importance of faith by using Abraham as an example of faith. The key idea here is salvation is a gift that must be received through faith just as Abraham was justified because of his belief in God. As we continue our study through Romans, Paul will continue to use Abraham and David as examples of faith.