ROMANS CHAPTER 4 _ OUTLINE AND COMMENTARY-MARK DUNAGAN_ I. OUTLINE OF ROMANS CHAPTER 4: I. The proof of the case of justification by faith: Romans 4:1-25 A. The case established by the example of Abraham: Romans 4:1-5 B. The case established by the witness of David: Romans 4:6-8 C. The case es... [ Continue Reading ]
WHAT THEN SHALL WE SAY THAT ABRAHAM, OUR FOREFATHER, HATH FOUND ACCORDING TO THE FLESH? 'What then shall we say' -the phrase anticipates an objection or proposes an inference (Romans 4:1; Romans 6:1; Romans 7:7; Romans 8:31; Romans 9:14) (Vincent p. 50) 'ACCORDING TO THE FLESH' -'What did Abraham... [ Continue Reading ]
__ Romans 4:2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not toward God. 'Justified by works' -we must point out that Paul in these verses holds "works" and "obedience" as two distinct concepts. It must be perfectly clear that Abraham did "obey" God. But it is also perfec... [ Continue Reading ]
__ Romans 4:3 For what saith the scripture? And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned unto him for righteousness. 'For what saith the scripture?' -in the scriptures we don't find Abraham 'boasting' before God, but rather we find the very doctrine that Paul is teaching! 'ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD'.... [ Continue Reading ]
__ Romans 4:4 Now to him that worketh, the reward is not reckoned as of grace, but as of debt. 'Worketh' -in these verses (4-8), the "worker" is put in contrast to the "one who..believes" (5), "the forgiven man" (7-8). ***NOTE: The worker is not JUST an obedient man but the SINLESSLY obedient man.... [ Continue Reading ]
__ Romans 4:5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is reckoned for righteousness. 'Worketh not' -don't make the mistake of thinking that "worketh not" means, "obeyeth not". Remember: Abraham (an obedient man- Genesis 18:19; Genesis 26:5), falls in... [ Continue Reading ]
__ Romans 4:6 Even as David also pronounceth blessing upon the man, unto whom God reckoneth righteousness apart from works, 'also pronounced' -Moses had pronounced the blessing on Abraham (Genesis 15:6). We heard that "faith" (obedient faith) was the way to righteousness before the Mosaic covenant... [ Continue Reading ]
__ Romans 4:7 saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, And whose sins are covered.... [ Continue Reading ]
__ Romans 4:8 Blessed is the man to whom, the Lord will not reckon sin. Paul says that verses 7-8,. quotation from Psalms 32:1. is how God makes the sinner to be "right", or how God can justify the man who fails to flawlessly keep the Law. 'In short, imputing righteousness is equivalent to not imp... [ Continue Reading ]
__ Romans 4:9 Is this blessing then pronounced upon the circumcision, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say, To Abraham his faith was reckoned for righteousness. 'This blessing' -'Is this blessing, then, for the circumcised alone?' (Con) "YES, THE JEW FOR ARGUMENT'S SAKE MIGHT CONCEDE, BUT... [ Continue Reading ]
__ Romans 4:10 How then was it reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision: 'How then was it reckoned?' -'Under what circumstances, then, did this take place' (TCNT) Here we see how prejudice can blind one. 'They hadn't. real grasp of th... [ Continue Reading ]
__ Romans 4:11 and he received the sign of circumcision,. seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while he was in uncircumcision; that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be in uncircumcision, that righteousness might be reckoned unto them; 'Sign of circumcisio... [ Continue Reading ]
__ Romans 4:12 and the father of circumcision to them who not only are of the circumcision, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham which he had in uncircumcision. 'to them who not only are of the circumcision, but..' -'Every Jew knew that Abraham was the father of the c... [ Continue Reading ]
__ Romans 4:13 For not through the law was the promise to Abraham or to his seed that he should be heir of the world, but through the righteousness of faith. 'Through the law' -the promises given to Abraham were not given to him based on his flawless law-keeping, but on the basis of his faith. 'HE... [ Continue Reading ]
__ Romans 4:14 For if they that are of the law are heirs, faith is made void, and the promise is made of none effect: 'they that are of the law' -'for if it is those who rely on Law who are the heirs' (Wey) The Jews ought to be glad that what Paul says it true. There is no definite article before... [ Continue Reading ]
__ Romans 4:15 for the law worketh wrath; but where there is no law, neither is there transgression. 'law worketh wrath' -when Paul mentions "law" it appears that he is speaking of. "legal arrangement",. perfect law-keeping system of rightness with God. He is arguing that God's promises weren't de... [ Continue Reading ]
__ Romans 4:16 For this cause it is of faith, that it may be according to grace; to the end that the promise may 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 'For this cause' -'For this reason' (NASV);... [ Continue Reading ]
__ Romans 4:17 (as it is written,. father of many nations have. made thee) before him whom he believed, even God, who giveth life to the dead, and calleth the things that are not, as though they were. 'as it is written'. Genesis 17:5. this quotation proves the last line in verse 16, i.e. that Abra... [ Continue Reading ]
__ Romans 4:18 Who in hope believed against hope, to the end that he might become. father of many nations, according to that which had been spoken, So shall thy seed be. 'Who' -i.e. Abraham. 'IN HOPE BELIEVED AGAINST HOPE' -'past hope in (upon) hope he trusted.' (Robertson p. 353). Humanly speaki... [ Continue Reading ]
__ Romans 4:19 And without being weakened in faith he considered his own body now as good as dead (he being about. hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah's womb; 'he considered' -'his faith never quailed, even when he noted the utter impotence of his own body.' (Mof) "THERE ARE THOSE WHO D... [ Continue Reading ]
YET, LOOKING UNTO THE PROMISE OF GOD, HE WAVERED NOT THROUGH UNBELIEF, BUT WAXED STRONG THROUGH FAITH, GIVING GLORY TO GOD, 'Wavered not through unbelief' -'He was not divided in his mind by unbelief' (Robertson p. 353); 'yet he never staggered in doubt at the promise of God' (Wms) The word implie... [ Continue Reading ]
AND BEING FULLY ASSURED THAT WHAT HE HAD PROMISED, HE WAS ABLE ALSO TO PERFORM. 'Fully assured' -'absolutely certain' (Wey); 'fully convinced' (Knox); 'in the firm conviction that' (TCNT) (Hebrews 11:1). Modern Application: Are we 'fully convinced' about the promises that God has given to us?... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEREFORE ALSO IT WAS RECKONED UNTO HIM FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS. 'Wherefore' -'For this reason' (Wey). This is the type of faith that enables. man to be justified by God. Clearly, 'faith only', is far removed from Paul's mind. POINT TO NOTE: The situation in Abraham's life under consideration in Romans... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW IT WAS NOT WRITTEN FOR HIS SAKE ALONE, THAT IT WAS RECKONED UNTO HIM;. Romans 15:4.... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT FOR OUR SAKE ALSO, UNTO WHOM IT SHALL BE RECKONED, WHO BELIEVE ON HIM THAT RAISED JESUS OUR LORD FROM THE DEAD, 'unto whom it shall be reckoned' -note, it's not "faith" that results in justification, but "faith" in the RIGHT PERSON! Apart from Christ and God, "faith" is powerless.... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO WAS DELIVERED UP FOR OUR TRESPASSES, AND WAS RAISED FOR OUR JUSTIFICATION. 'who was delivered up' -The Jews delivered him up, Judas delivered him, Pilate delivered him, AND OUR SINS delivered him up also! Our sins made His death NECESSARY! 'FOR' -'because of' (Wey). God searched high and low... [ Continue Reading ]