Romans 4:1
That our father Abraham hath found — Acceptance with God. According to the flesh — That is, by works.... [ Continue Reading ]
That our father Abraham hath found — Acceptance with God. According to the flesh — That is, by works.... [ Continue Reading ]
The meaning is, If Abraham had been justified by works, he would have had room to glory. But he had not room to glory. Therefore he was not justified by works.... [ Continue Reading ]
Abraham believed God — That promise of God concerning the numerousness of his seed, Genesis 15:5, Genesis 15:7; but especially the promise concerning Christ, Genesis 12:3, through whom all nations should be blessed. And it was imputed to him for righteousness — God accepted him as if he had been alt... [ Continue Reading ]
Now to him that worketh — All that the law requires, the reward is no favour, but an absolute debt. These two examples are selected and applied with the utmost judgment and propriety. Abraham was the most illustrious pattern of piety among the Jewish patriarchs. David was the most eminent of their k... [ Continue Reading ]
But to him that worketh not — It being impossible he should without faith. But believeth, his faith is imputed to him for righteousness — Therefore God's affirming of Abraham, that faith was imputed to him for righteousness, plainly shows that he worked not; or, in other words, that he was not justi... [ Continue Reading ]
So David also — David is fitly introduced after Abraham, because be also received and delivered down the promise. Affirmeth — A man is justified by faith alone, and not by works. Without works — That is, without regard to any former good works supposed to have been done by him.... [ Continue Reading ]
Happy are they whose sins are covered — With the veil of divine mercy. If there be indeed such a thing as happiness on earth, it is the portion of that man whose iniquities are forgiven, and who enjoys the manifestation of that pardon. Well may he endure all the afflictions of life with cheerfulness... [ Continue Reading ]
This happiness — Mentioned by Abraham and David. On the circumcision — Those that are circumcised only. Faith was imputed to Abraham for righteousness — This is fully consistent with our being justified, that is, pardoned and accepted by God upon our believing, for the sake of what Christ hath done... [ Continue Reading ]
Not in circumcision — Not after he was circumcised; for he was justified before Ishmael was born, Genesis 15:1; but he was not circumcised till Ishmael was thirteen years old, Genesis 17:25.... [ Continue Reading ]
And — After he was justified. He received the sign of circumcision — Circumcision, which was a sign or token of his being in covenant with God. A seal — An assurance on God's part, that he accounted him righteous, upon his believing, before he was circumcised. Who believe in uncircumcision — That is... [ Continue Reading ]
And the father of the circumcision — Of those who are circumcised, and believe as Abraham did. To those who believe not, Abraham is not a father, neither are they his seed.... [ Continue Reading ]
The promise, that he should be the heir of the world — Is the same as that he should be "the father of all nations," namely, of those in all nations who receive the blessing. The whole world was promised to him and them conjointly. Christ is the heir of the world, and of all things; and so are all A... [ Continue Reading ]
If they only who are of the law — Who have kept the whole law. Are heirs, faith is made void — No blessing being to be obtained by it; and so the promise is of no effect.... [ Continue Reading ]
Because the law — Considered apart from that grace, which though it was in fact mingled with it, yet is no part of the legal dispensation, is so difficult, and we so weak and sinful, that, instead of bringing us a blessing, it only worketh wrath; it becomes to us an occasion of wrath, and exposes us... [ Continue Reading ]
Therefore it — The blessing. Is of faith, that it might be of grace — That it might appear to flow from the free love of God, and that the promise might be firm, sure, and effectual, to all the spiritual seed of Abraham; not only Jews, but gentiles also, if they follow his faith.... [ Continue Reading ]
Before God — Though before men nothing of this appeared, those nations being then unborn. As quickening the dead — The dead are not dead to him and even the things that are not, are before God. And calling the things that are not — Summoning them to rise into being, and appear before him. The seed o... [ Continue Reading ]
The Apostle shows the power and excellence of that faith to which he ascribes justification. Who against hope — Against all probability, believed and hoped in the promise. The same thing is apprehended both by faith and hope; by faith, as a thing which God has spoken; by hope, as a good thing which... [ Continue Reading ]
On his account only — To do personal honour to him.... [ Continue Reading ]
But on ours also — To establish us in seeking justification by faith, and not by works; and to afford a full answer to those who say that, " to be justified by works means only, by Judaism; to be justified by faith means, by embracing Christianity, that is, the system of doctrines so called." Sure i... [ Continue Reading ]
Who was delivered — To death. For our offences — As an atonement for them. And raised for our justification — To empower us to receive that atonement by faith.... [ Continue Reading ]