Romans 4

Chapter 4 is a history lesson bringing previous chapters about the relationship between faith and the works of the law to life through Abraham. I believe the main point is based on this part of Chapter 3:

²⁷ Can we boast, then, that we have done anything to be accepted by God? No, because our acquittal is not based on obeying the law. It is based on faith. ²⁸ So we are made right with God through faith and not by obeying the law.

The law of Moses came after Abraham, who is called the father of all who believe... so what law did Abraham follow? Is this what Paul references when he says in Romans 2:14  

"Even Gentiles, who do not have God’s written law, show that they know his law when they instinctively obey it, even without having heard it. ¹⁵ They demonstrate that God’s law is written in their hearts, for their own conscience and thoughts either accuse them or tell them they are doing right."?

 We know Abraham had a thriving personal relationship with God. He was called the friend of God. He spoke with God often, and a few times in person; so perhaps this constant contact with God honed his conscience to the point that his actions followed a law his eyes had never read. Why then, does Paul make this division? He seems to emphasize "faith of Abraham" over the "law of Moses." Yet, Paul's specific example of Abraham shows him following the law of circumcision before it was a part of the law of Moses:

⁹ Now, is this blessing only for the Jews, or is it also for uncircumcised Gentiles?^[c] Well, we have been saying that Abraham was counted as righteous by God because of his faith. ¹⁰ But how did this happen? Was he counted as righteous only after he was circumcised, or was it before he was circumcised? Clearly, God accepted Abraham before he was circumcised!¹¹ Circumcision was a sign that Abraham already had faith and that God had already accepted him and declared him to be righteous—even before he was circumcised. So Abraham is the spiritual father of those who have faith but have not been circumcised. They are counted as righteous because of their faith. ¹² And Abraham is also the spiritual father of those who have been circumcised, but only if they have the same kind of faith Abraham had before he was circumcised.

I think he is going through so much trouble with so many words in creating this example for one simple concept: The law does not make one righteous. The law is based on doing something myself, working for myself, trying to find atonement for myself. Only faith can make one righteous because it acknowledges that when I must stand before a Holy creator, none of my works will atone for my unholiness. Only Christ can.

 ⁴ When people work, their wages are not a gift, but something they have earned. ⁵ But people are counted as righteous, not because of their work, but because of their faith in God who forgives sinners.

Faith acknowledges that I can do absolutely nothing- and this is such an uncomfortable, uneasy thought, and I suppose it is not natural. It seems to create a vacuum in logic: I am getting something I do not deserve for absolutely nothing in return but my mere belief. Scripture is clear, though, what Abraham did, what we are able to do, is not what will make us righteous. We will never be able to boast in our own abilities, but must come to the point of realizing that everything we are able to do is from God:

 ² If his good deeds had made him acceptable to God, he would have had something to boast about. But that was not God’s way. ³ For the Scriptures tell us, “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.

And:

¹⁶ So the promise is received by faith. It is given as a free gift. And we are all certain to receive it, whether or not we live according to the law of Moses, if we have faith like Abraham’s. For Abraham is the father of all who believe.

This defies all natural laws that we work with in this world. Something is never for nothing here, and we are so used to this that we drag it into the spiritual realm and try to work for our salvation, forgetting that there’s a whole new set of rules and norms for that realm. Where we are used to viewing physical, tangible evidence to determine worth, God looks instead at the heart and motivation behind the production, or even before the production of those works, making this question valid:

¹⁰ But how did this happen? Was he counted as righteous only after he was circumcised, or was it before he was circumcised? Clearly, God accepted Abraham before he was circumcised!

Paul has already said, in Chapter 3

³¹ Well then, if we emphasize faith, does this mean that we can forget about the law? Of course not! In fact, only when we have faith do we truly fulfill the law.

Which emphasizes that God looks at our motivations, at what drives our works and our obedience to his words more than the final result of our actions. Right actions with wrong motivations are then wrong. Right motivations, though they may take a while to produce “perfected fruit” can still be pleasing to God. This is a very personal part of righteousness: We must continually ask ourselves “Am I doing these things because I am motivated by love for God, or am I trying to atone for myself?” and perhaps, we have to then start over at the beginning and acknowledge:

1.       God exists

2.       I have faith in this God

3.       I believe that only He can atone for me

4.       This produces love and gratitude for him

5.       This love motivates me to good works

6.       I now can ask myself “what works can I do that will show God I love Him. What needs can I fulfill in the environment he has placed me in that will extend this same love to the people around me?”

This is in sharp contrast to the legalistic questions created when men try to line up their final results with the law instead of lining up their hearts to love. Paul emphasizes that Abraham’s faith, though personal with him, was recorded for our benefit:

²³ And when God counted him as righteous, it wasn’t just for Abraham’s benefit. It was recorded ²⁴ for our benefit, too, assuring us that God will also count us as righteous if we believe in him, the one who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. ²⁵ He was handed over to die because of our sins, and he was raised to life to make us right with God.

And here’s where we are called to action with the example of Abraham who put it into action:

²⁰ Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God. ²¹ He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises. ²² And because of Abraham’s faith, God counted him as righteous.

Have faith. Believe in God’s promise even when all physical evidence contradicts it. Let your faith grow stronger and bring glory to God. Fully rely on the sacrifice of Christ to make you righteous. Let this sacrifice motivate you to love and good works. Faith like this can make us be counted as righteous, too.