Romans 4:22-25 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.
The critical issue involves putting our faith in God and what Jesus has done on the cross for us. Abraham’s faith led to his righteousness. Paul points out here that what Abraham did affects all who have faith. Abraham set the pattern of faith without the law. The law was given later as a guide to help this faith grow, but it was never intended to replace faith as the requirement for righteousness. Abraham followed the simply stated promise of God that actually was not so simple to live out. The promise is found in Genesis 12:1-3: “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” We are part of “all the families of the earth” because of faith and what Jesus has done for us. The object of our faith is God’s promise of righteousness through Jesus death on the cross and resurrection from the dead. This topic of Jesus’ death and resurrection will stand behind what Paul will write in the next four chapters. It is the basis of our faith. It is through what Jesus has done that the door is opened for us to be saved. We cannot find salvation based on our own efforts but only by receiving the gift offered to us. Jesus’ death covered the penalty for sin and his resurrection overcame the power of sin.
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