Romans 4: Counted Righteous

​What then shall we say was gained by Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh? 2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. 3 For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.” 4 Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. 5 And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness, 6 just as David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works: 
7    “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, 
and whose sins are covered; 
8    blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin.” 
9 Is this blessing then only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? For we say that faith was counted to Abraham as righteousness. 10 How then was it counted to him? Was it before or after he had been circumcised? It was not after, but before he was circumcised. 11 He received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. The purpose was to make him the father of all who believe without being circumcised, so that righteousness would be counted to them as well, 12 and to make him the father of the circumcised who are not merely circumcised but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised. 
The Promise Realized Through Faith
13 For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith. 14 For if it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void. 15 For the law brings wrath, but where there is no law there is no transgression. 
 
16 That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his offspring—not only to the adherent of the law but also to the one who shares the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all, 17 as it is written, “I have made you the father of many nations”—in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist. 18 In hope he believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been told, “So shall your offspring be.” 19 He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead (since he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah’s womb. 20 No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, 21 fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. 22 That is why his faith was “counted to him as righteousness.” 23 But the words “it was counted to him” were not written for his sake alone, 24 but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, 25 who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification. 
 
 
Meditation
God’s sovereign grace “gets us right” with God through faith, total trust in Jesus that we may be counted righteous through His work.
 
Abraham was “as good as dead” and Sarah was “barren,” yet God promised that through Abraham’s offspring all the nations of the earth will be blessed. Abraham “believed God” and his faith was “counted” as righteousness (Genesis 15). 
 
“Counted” is the key word (logizdomai in 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 22, 23, 24), literally meaning “to credit or count.” Abraham’s faith credited him God’s righteousness (1-8). God’s grace does not count the sin of David, but covers sin with grace (6-8). Abraham’s faith was before the work of circumcision (9-17) and focused on God’s promises (18-23), specifically Jesus (24-25) who is Abraham’s greatest offspring.
 
The amount of faith does not count. The object of faith is paramount, and God’s irresistible grace compels our faith to focus on the person and promises of God. Jesus is the One who died so Abraham and all his “children by faith” can be made alive. Jesus rose from the grave so Sarah and all her children by faith can move from barrenness to blessing.  Jesus’ perfect life is counted for those whose trust in in Him just as His death covers our sins. Wearing Christ’s righteousness by faith, God sees believers “just as if we have never sinned.”
 
Jesus became sin so Christians can become righteous (2 Corinthians 5:21). The richness of Christ’s righteousness is counted, or credited, to believers, so we can know the riches of God’s grace.
 
Richly Dwelling
-What stands out to you from today’s reading, especially in the “counting righteous” of God through faith?
 
-Do you struggle to believe your sins are not “counted” against you (6) because you do not trust the righteousness of Jesus has been counted, or credited, to you? How does this affect your trust of God and His love?
 
-How does the reality of God’s finished work in Christ, He taking your sin to give you His righteous record, fuel your trust in His forgiveness and move you to a place of peace?
 
 
Key Verse
16 That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his offspring—not only to the adherent of the law but also to the one who shares the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all…