The Living Word

KING JAMES VERSION

"The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever."

— Isaiah 40:8

Romans 4

Listen to the Word

Initializing audio...

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16

1

What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?

WhatsApp Copy

2

For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.

WhatsApp Copy

3

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

WhatsApp Copy

4

Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.

WhatsApp Copy

5

But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

WhatsApp Copy

6

Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,

WhatsApp Copy

7

Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.

WhatsApp Copy

8

Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.

WhatsApp Copy

9

Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness.

WhatsApp Copy

10

How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision.

WhatsApp Copy

11

And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also:

WhatsApp Copy

12

And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised.

WhatsApp Copy

13

For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.

WhatsApp Copy

14

For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect:

WhatsApp Copy

15

Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.

WhatsApp Copy

16

Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,

WhatsApp Copy

17

(As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.

WhatsApp Copy

18

Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.

WhatsApp Copy

19

And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb:

WhatsApp Copy

20

He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;

WhatsApp Copy

21

And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.

WhatsApp Copy

22

And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.

WhatsApp Copy

23

Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him;

WhatsApp Copy

24

But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;

WhatsApp Copy

25

Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.

WhatsApp Copy

Previous Next

Chapter Study & Analysis

Overview

Romans 4 uses Abraham as the primary example of justification by faith. Paul demonstrates that Abraham was counted righteous because he believed God’s promise, long before he was circumcised or the Law was given, proving that the promise is for all who believe.

CONTEMPORARY APPLICATIONS

1. Credited Righteousness: Like Abraham, our faith is "counted for righteousness" (v. 5). We must trust in God who justifies the ungodly, rather than relying on our own "working" for salvation.
2. Hope Against Hope: Abraham believed God even when his physical circumstances seemed impossible (v. 18). We are called to trust God’s Word more than our feelings or our visible situation.
3. The Guarantee of the Promise: Faith makes the promise sure (v. 16). Because it depends on God’s grace and power rather than our perfect keeping of the Law, our hope remains unshakable.

Practical Lessons

FORMAL PRAYER

God of Abraham, who quickenest the dead and callest those things which be not as though they were: strengthen our faith. Help us to stagger not at Thy promises through unbelief, but to be fully persuaded that what Thou hast promised, Thou art able also to perform. Amen.

Copied to clipboard!