How does Romans 4:3 connect to Genesis 15:6 regarding righteousness? The Setting: Paul Reaches Back to Abraham Romans 4 is Paul’s airtight argument that righteousness comes by faith, not by works. To prove it, he quotes Genesis 15:6—an event that took place more than four centuries before the Law was given at Sinai. By spotlighting Abraham, Paul shows that the principle of “faith credited as righteousness” predates circumcision, Moses, and any system of merit. Key Passages Side-by-Side • Genesis 15:6 – “Abram believed the LORD, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” • Romans 4:3 – “For what does the Scripture say? ‘Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.’” Paul’s quotation is exact. He does not reinterpret the verse; he simply places it in front of his readers to let Scripture speak for itself. The Shared Core: Faith Credited as Righteousness • “Believed” (Hebrew ’aman / Greek pisteuō) – a trust that rests its weight on God’s promise. • “Credited” (Hebrew ḥāšab / Greek logizomai) – an accounting term meaning “to put to one’s account,” not “to infuse” or “to gradually earn.” • “Righteousness” (Hebrew ṣĕdāqâ / Greek dikaiosynē) – right standing before God, the very thing sinners lack and cannot manufacture. The connection is direct: Abraham’s act of believing was the sole basis for God’s moment-in-time declaration of righteousness. Paul cites this to affirm that justification is by faith alone, and always has been. Abraham’s Faith: What Did He Believe? Genesis 15 unfolds like this: 1. God promises Abram offspring “as numerous as the stars” (15:5). 2. Abram takes God at His word, despite his and Sarai’s childlessness. 3. The LORD credits that faith as righteousness. Abram trusted a specific promise tied to God’s redemptive plan, ultimately fulfilled in Christ (Galatians 3:16). So when Paul uses Abram as Exhibit A, he is also pointing to the Messiah who would come through Abram’s line. Paul’s Flow of Thought in Romans 4 • vv. 1-2 – If Abraham were justified by works, he could boast—but Scripture denies him that ground. • v. 3 – Proof text: Genesis 15:6. • vv. 4-5 – Wages are owed to a worker; righteousness is credited to the ungodly who believe. • vv. 9-12 – Abraham was declared righteous before he was circumcised, making him father of both Jew and Gentile believers. • vv. 13-17 – The promise rests on grace, ensuring it is guaranteed. • vv. 23-24 – These words were written “also for us,” that righteousness will be credited to all who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. Echoes Across the Canon • Psalm 32:1-2 – David celebrates the blessedness of sins not counted against him; Paul cites this in Romans 4:6-8. • Habakkuk 2:4 – “The righteous will live by faith.” • Galatians 3:6-9 – Paul repeats the Genesis 15:6 quotation, linking Abraham’s faith to the blessing of the nations. • James 2:23 – James quotes the same verse to show that genuine faith produces works, yet the foundational declaration of righteousness still comes by faith. • Ephesians 2:8-9 – Salvation is by grace through faith, “not by works, so that no one may boast.” Why This Matters Today • Assurance – Because righteousness is credited, not earned, believers can rest secure in God’s verdict. • Unity – Jew and Gentile share the same path to God: trusting His promise fulfilled in Christ. • Mission – The gospel we share is the same life-giving message God preached to Abraham (Galatians 3:8). • Worship – Seeing the seamless thread from Genesis to Romans fuels praise for God’s unchanging, covenant-keeping character. Romans 4:3 doesn’t merely reference Genesis 15:6; it reaffirms that from the dawn of redemption history, God’s way of making sinners right with Himself has been, and will always be, by grace through faith. |
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