How does Romans 4:10 emphasize faith over works in Abraham's justification? Setting the Context • Romans 3:28: “For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the law.” • Paul now turns to Abraham as the prototype of this truth. Examining Romans 4:10 “ In what state was it credited? Was it after he was circumcised, or before? It was not after, but before.” • The word “credited” (logizomai) points to a legal accounting—God places righteousness on Abraham’s account. • Paul’s two questions drive a single point: timing matters. Righteousness was “credited” before any ritual act. Faith Preceded Circumcision • Genesis 15:6: “Abram believed the LORD, and He credited it to him as righteousness.” • Genesis 17 (two chapters later) records circumcision. The timeline proves faith alone secured righteousness. • Circumcision, though commanded, served as a sign—not a source—of justification. Faith, Not Law-Keeping, Opens Grace • Romans 4:4-5 stresses that works create debt, whereas faith receives a gift. • Galatians 3:6-9 echoes the argument: those of faith are “sons of Abraham.” • Ephesians 2:8-9 reminds believers that salvation is “not of works, so that no one may boast.” Why Works Cannot Contribute • If Abraham’s righteousness hinged on circumcision, only Jews could claim the promise. • By crediting righteousness in uncircumcision, God flings the door open to Gentiles (Romans 4:11-12). • Any ritual or moral achievement added to the gospel would undermine grace (Romans 11:6). Implications for Today • Rituals—baptism, communion, church membership—are valuable, yet they follow salvation, never secure it. • Assurance rests on Christ’s finished work, received by faith just as Abraham believed God’s promise. • The timeless pattern stands: God justifies the ungodly who trust Him, apart from any human merit. |
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