Verse by Verse

1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

The theme of chapter 5 is “through Christ.”

Therefore — The subject is linked back to chapter 4.

Benefit of justification — peace with God (not “peace of God”). It’s a state, not a feeling. Sinners are at war with God, the justified are at peace.

Jesus Christ is our mediator and our peace.

²⁴ but also for us. It shall be imputed to us who believe in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead,

²⁵ who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification.

As Abraham believed God could bring life to his body, so we believe God brought life to Christ.

Christ’s death paid for our sins. His resurrection proved it was paid. He did it all.

Our merited condemnation caused His death, our accomplished justification caused His resurrection.

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.