HOW ARE WE DECLARED JUSTIFIED?

ROMANS 4:1–3

If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about—but not before God. What does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness”

(Romans 4:2–3).

Is justification by faith alone? Or is justification accomplished through a mixture of faith and good works, of grace plus merit? That question has divided Christendom for centuries.

The Free Gift of Righteousness

In Romans 3, the concept of righteousness as a free gift, of righteousness by faith, is spelled out against any notion of legal righteousness or righteousness achieved through good works. Now Romans 4 provides a lengthy illustration of the truth set out in chapter 3, and the principal example provided is the patriarch Abraham.

In verse 2, Paul sets out a condition contrary to fact. A more accurate translation would be, “If, in fact, Abraham were justified by works,” because the context makes it clear that the statement is hypothetical. Hypothetically, if Abraham had been justified by works, he would have had something to boast about. But not before God. Why not? Because the Scripture says otherwise.

Faith Counted as Righteousness

For Paul the supreme authority in this question is the Bible, not the decisions of councils or the opinions of theologians. Paul cites Genesis 15:6 to prove that Abraham’s faith was counted to him as righteousness. Justification is not by faith plus works. Justification is by faith alone.

How were people saved in the Old Testament before Christ? By putting their faith in God and in His promise of a future Redeemer who would save His people from their sin. They looked in faith forward to the Cross. We are saved today by trusting God, looking back in history to the fulfillment of His promise in Christ’s atoning work.

CORAM DEO

Are you trusting in Christ alone? Or do you find that you want to “boast,” to steal the credit for your own salvation? Ask God today to strip you of any such boasting, and make you more like Abraham, who came before God, not in his own righteousness, but simply trusting in God’s promise of salvation.

For further study: Genesis 12, 15; Galatians 3:6–14

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