Verse by Verse

²² And therefore “it was accounted to him for righteousness.”

²³ Now it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him,

Not … for his sake alone — all believers are justified by faith in God’s promises

Faith is counted for righteousness, not as righteousness. It isn’t a work.

²¹ and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform.

“Faith” or “believe” occurs 16 times in the chapter.

4:3 — counted to Abraham for righteousness

4:5 — counted for righteousness

4:9 — reckoned for righteousness

4:22 — imputed for righteousness

²⁰ He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God

waver = didn’t have a divided mind

gave glory = adopted a right attitude

What pleases God most is taking Him at His Word.

¹⁹ And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb.

Sarah was 90. Abraham knew their bodies were dead to child-bearing, but it didn’t shake his faith in God who quickens the dead (verse 17).

¹⁸ who, contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, “So shall your descendants be.”

against hope — an oxymoron, beyond hope. Abraham had hope contrary to human expectation.

So shall thy seed be — referring to stars. And He brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and He said unto him, So shall thy seed be (Genesis 15:5).

¹⁷ (as it is written, “I have made you a father of many nations”) in the presence of Him whom he believed—God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did;

Father — Genesis 17:5 — Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee. It says “I have” even though it hadn’t yet occurred because God’s promise made it sure.

gives life to the dead — in this case, Sarah and Abraham’s bodies were dead to child-bearing but God made them alive.

before = in the presence of

¹⁴ For if those who are of the law are heirs, faith is made void and the promise made of no effect,

¹⁵ because the law brings about wrath; for where there is no law there is no transgression.

¹⁶ Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be sure to all the seed, 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.

of no effect — because nobody could keep the law

wrath — failure to keep the law brings on the wrath of God.

grace — there is no merit in faith. The promise, faith, and grace are contrasted with the law, works, and merit.

The promise will be given to the Jews, but by faith, not by the law.

Abraham is the father of all who take God at His Word.

¹³ For the promise that he would be the heir of the world was not to Abraham or to his seed through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.

The blessing to Abraham was not based on circumcision (verse 12) or the law, but through faith.

seed = Christ, as in Galatians 3:16 (Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ) but also to his descendants as in Galatians 3:29 (And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise).

¹¹ And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while still uncircumcised, that he might be the father of all those who believe, though they are uncircumcised, that righteousness might be imputed to them also,

¹² and the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also walk in the steps of the faith which our father Abraham had while still uncircumcised.

Circumcision didn’t bring righteousness, but it was a sign of righteousness imputed by faith and of Abraham’s covenant with God.

Abraham had a physical relationship with Israel and a spiritual relationship with all who believe.

He was the father to those who were circumcised (Israel) and who walked in faith as he did.

walk = general conduct in relation to others

⁹ Does this blessedness then come upon the circumcised only, or upon the uncircumcised also? For we say that faith was accounted to Abraham for righteousness.

¹⁰ How then was it accounted? While he was circumcised, or uncircumcised? Not while circumcised, but while uncircumcised.

Abraham was imputed righteousness at least 14 years before he was circumcised, so justification isn’t just for the circumcised (Genesis 15).