William Burkitt's Expository Notes

Romans 4:3

Observe here, 1. The account which the scripture gives of Abraham's justification; it was by faith alone; He believed God and was accounted to him for righteousness: That is, he firmly believed the promise of God, that he would give him. son, in whom all the families of the earth should be blessed. And by means of his faith, he was reckoned or esteemed righteous before God, and not by means of his works.

Observe, 2. The apostle's argument, to prove that Abraham was justified by faith, and not by works; had he works of perfect holiness, then in strict justice. reward might have been expected by him as. due debt, and not given him in. way of grace and favour. For to him that worketh, that is, with. design and intent to obtain justification by his works, is the reward reckoned not of grace, but of debt; he having performed all that was required, in order to his being righteous before God. But to him that worketh not; that is, who worketh not to the intent and end forementioned; namely to procure justification by working, but seeks that in. way of believing; his faith is counted for righteousness. To him that worketh not, but believeth, &c. We must not understand it absolutely; for he that believeth, worketh: But, secundum quid, after. sort, he is said not to work; because he worketh not with. design to stand righteous before God by his works.

Again, by him that worketh not, we are not to understand an idle, lazy believer that takes no care of he duties of obedience; no, an idle faith is an ineffectual faith, and can never be. saving faith: But the meaning is, he worketh not in. law sense, to the ends and intentions of the first covenant, to make up. righteousness by the law, and seeing all his endeavours to obey the law-sense not to work, because he doth not work so as to answer the purpose and end of the law, which accepts of nothing short of perfect and complete obedience. And whereas it is here said, That God justifieth the ungodly; the meaning is, such as have been ungodly, not such as continue so.

The apostle describes the temper and frame of their hearts and lives before justification, and not after it; as it found them, not as it leaves them. True, Christ justifies the ungodly, yet such as continue ungodly are not justified by him: We must bring credential from our sanctification, to bear witness to the truth of our justification.

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William Burkitt's Expository Notes

Romans 4:3

Old Testament

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