ROMANS 4:1-25
What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, has found? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” Now to the one who works, his wage is not credited as a favor, but as what is due. But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness, just as David also speaks of the blessing on the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works: “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds have been forgiven, and whose sins have been covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will not take into account.”
Is this blessing then on the circumcised, or on the uncircumcised also? For we say, “Faith was credited to Abraham as righteousness.” How then was it credited? While he was circumcised, or uncircumcised? Not while circumcised, but while uncircumcised; and he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while uncircumcised, so that he might be the father of all who believe without being circumcised, that righteousness might be credited to them, and the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also follow in the steps of the faith of our father Abraham which he had while uncircumcised.
For the promise to Abraham or to his descendants that he would be heir of the world was not through the Law, but through the righteousness of faith. For if those who are of the Law are heirs, faith is made void and the promise is nullified; for the Law brings about wrath, but where there is no law, there also is no violation.
For this reason it is by faith, in order that it may be in accordance with grace, so that the promise will be guaranteed to all the descendants, not only to those who are of the Law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all, (as it is written, “A father of many nations have I made you”) in the presence of Him whom he believed, even God, who gives life to the dead and calls into being that which does not exist. In hope against hope he believed, so that he might become a father of many nations according to that which had been spoken, “So shall your descendants be.” Without becoming weak in faith he contemplated his own body, now as good as dead since he was about a hundred years old, and the deadness of Sarah’s womb; yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able also to perform. Therefore it was also credited to him as righteousness. Now not for his sake only was it written that it was credited to him, but for our sake also, to whom it will be credited, as those who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead, He who was delivered over because of our transgressions, and was raised because of our justification.
OUR FATHER, there are people who believe
some ritual, rite, ceremony, or moral act
will earn righteousness and reconciliation with You,
but Your Word is clear: that belief is false.
We learn this especially from the example of Abraham,
who received righteousness freely,
by imputation from You,
because he believed in the One who justifies the ungodly.
No one is godly apart from Your doing.
Abraham was blessed with the faith to take You at Your Word,
and it was credited to him as righteousness
before the rite of circumcision was established.
Thus in the opening chapters of Genesis
the way of salvation was set forth clearly for us.
It is always and only by grace through faith,
lest anyone should boast.
We acknowledge with gratitude that salvation is provided
fully and freely by grace
to those who put their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Thank You for the grace that saves ungodly sinners like us
who, left to ourselves and our own efforts,
could never gain righteousness and would all perish in hell.
We come before You to celebrate Your grace
in the power of the gospel,
which has captured our souls for eternal life
and our hearts for joyful worship.
So we come as undeserving sinners
who have simply trusted Christ.
We look to Him alone for righteousness and reconciliation,
fully realizing we have no capacity
to satisfy Your holy standards on our own.
Work in us, we pray, a faith like Abraham’s
to take You at Your Word.
May it be steadfast and not marred by any doubts!
Confessing and setting aside our own sins and selves,
we praise You for the greatness of
Your mercy, grace, love, and pure goodness
that will bring us to glory through Christ our Savior.
Receive our worship, for we bring it in His name. Amen.1
1 MacArthur, J., Jr. (2014). A year of prayer: growing closer to god week after week (pp. 187–189). Harvest House Publishers.
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