Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
back to:
Romans
Book: Romans
Chapter: 4
Overview:
The doctrine of
Justification By Faith is shown
By the case of
Abraham.
(1-12) He received the promise through the
Righteousness of
Faith.
(13-22) And we are justified in the same
way of believing.
(23-25)
1-12 To meet the views of the Jews, the
Apostle first refers to
the
Example of
Abraham, in whom the Jews gloried as their most
renowned forefather. However exalted in various respects, he had
nothing to boast in the presence of
God, being saved
By Grace,
through
Faith, even as others. Without noticing the years which
passed before his
Call, and the failures at times in his
obedience, and even in his
Faith, it was expressly stated in
Scripture that "he believed
God, and it was counted to him for
Righteousness," Ge 15:6. From this
Example it is observed,
that if any
Man could work the full
Measure required
By the
Law,
the reward must be reckoned as a
Debt, which evidently was not
the case even of
Abraham, seeing
Faith was reckoned to him for
Righteousness. When believers are justified
By Faith, "their
Faith being counted for
Righteousness," their
Faith does not
justify them as a part, small or great, of their
Righteousness;
but as the appointed means of uniting them to Him who has
Chosen
as the name whereby he shall be called, "the
Lord our
Righteousness." Pardoned people are the only blessed people. It
clearly appears from the
Scripture, that
Abraham was justified
several years before his
Circumcision. It is, therefore,
Plain
that this rite was not necessary in order to
Justification. It
was a sign of the original corruption of human nature. And it
was such a sign as was also an outward
Seal, appointed not only
to confirm
God's promises to him and to his seed, and their
obligation to be the
Lord's, but likewise to assure him of his
being already a real partaker of the
Righteousness of
Faith.
Thus
Abraham was the spiritual forefather of all believers, who
walked after the
Example of his obedient
Faith. The
Seal of the
Holy
Spirit in our
Sanctification, making us new creatures, is
the inward evidence of the
Righteousness of
Faith.
13-22 The promise was made to
Abraham long before the
Law. It
points at
Christ, and it refers to the promise, Ge 12:3. In
Thee shall all families of the
Earth be blessed. The
Law worketh
wrath,
By showing that every transgressor is exposed to the
Divine displeasure. As
God intended to give men a title to the
promised blessings,
So he appointed it to be
By Faith, that it
might be wholly of
Grace, to make it sure to all who were of the
like precious
Faith with
Abraham, whether Jews or
Gentiles, in
all ages. The
Justification and
Salvation of sinners, the taking
to himself the
Gentiles who had not been a people, were a
gracious
Calling of things which are not, as though they were;
and this giving a being to things that were not, proves the
almighty power of
God. The nature and power of
Abraham's
Faith
are shown. He believed
God's
Testimony, and looked for the
performance of his promise, firmly hoping when the case seemed
hopeless. It is weakness of
Faith, that makes a
Man Lie poring
On the difficulties in the way of a promise.
Abraham took it not
for a point that would admit of argument or debate. Unbelief is
at the bottom of all our staggerings at
God's promises. The
strength of
Faith appeared in its victory over fears.
God
honours
Faith; and great
Faith honours
God. It was imputed to
him for
Righteousness.
Faith is a
Grace that of all others gives
Glory to
God.
Faith clearly is the instrument
By which we
receive the
Righteousness of
God, the
Redemption which is
By
Christ; and that which is the instrument whereby we take or
receive it, cannot be the thing itself, nor can it be the
Gift
thereby taken and received.
Abraham's
Faith did not justify him
By its own merit or value, but as giving him a part in
Christ.
23-25 The history of
Abraham, and of his
Justification, was
recorded to teach men of after-ages; those especially to whom
the
Gospel was then made known. It is
Plain, that we are not
justified
By the merit of our own
Works, but
By Faith in
Jesus
Christ and his
Righteousness; which is the
Truth urged in this
and the foregoing
Chapter, as the great
Spring and foundation of
all comfort.
Christ did meritoriously work our
Justification and
Salvation By his
Death and
Passion, but the power and
Perfection
thereof, with respect to us, depend
On his resurrection.
By his
Death he paid our
Debt, in his resurrection he received our
acquittance, Isa 53:8. When he was discharged, we, in Him and
together with Him, received the discharge from the guilt and
Punishment of all our sins. This last verse is an abridgement or
summary of the whole
Gospel.