Abraham Believed God to Righteousness Romans 4:3

Paul the apostle asked the Jews in Rome, “What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, has found?, and he added, “for if Abraham were justified by works, he has whereof to glory; but not before God.” In chapter four and verse three of Romans, Paul shared how “Abraham believed God, and it was counted...for righteousness” where we read:

For what says the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.

The verse begins, “For what says the scripture?” Paul began with the word, “for” which means “even as, indeed, no doubt, seeing then, verily and therefore” “what says” or “what is affirmed, spoken, maintained, taught, exhorted, advised, commanded and directed in” “the scripture” or “the certain portion of the Holy written scripture”? Paul asked his readers to consider what “the Holy written scriptures” said concerning his next statement.

The verse continues, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.” Paul added the word, “Abraham” which means “the father of multitudes” and was “the son of Terah and the founder of the Jewish nation” “believed” which means “thought to be true, credited, had confidence in, and entrusts” “God” which refers to “the Godhead bodily and trinity which is comprised of God the Father, Christ the Son and the Holy Spirit”, “and it was counted” or “it was reckoned, computed, calculated and taken into account” “unto him” which refers to “to Abraham” “for righteousness” which means “the doctrine concerning the way in which man may attain a state approved of God, integrity, virtue, purity of life, correctness of feeling and acting”. Paul referenced Genesis chapter fifteen and verse six which says, “he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness” to show that it was “belief in God” that justified Abraham.

When we consider these words of Paul, we find him drawing from the strength of the scriptures to show how Abraham was made “righteous” before God. It was not his works, but rather Abraham's “faith” in God that “justified” him. Those who come to Jesus Christ must come in “faith”, and when they believe in Him as “Savior and Lord”, they shall be made “righteous” before God. No amount of “works” can save a person, and with Abraham as our example, perhaps we shall take comfort in relying upon “faith” in God for our justification.

Next time Paul declares,“to him that works is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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