Notes on Heirs of Righteousness

Romans 4:13 - 25

Abraham is our father and we are his seed not though the law but through faith. Promises were made that pointed to Christ and we are the heirs of those promises.

Romans 4:13 For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.

• The promise that he should inherit the world was not to Abraham and his seed was not based on the law but based on the righteousness of faith.
• (There are several key promises that God made to Abraham)

Romans 4:14 For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect:

• For if they which are of the law are heirs, then faith is made void, and the promise made of no effect:

Romans 4:15 Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.

• Because the law brings punishment for if there is no law then one cannot break the law.

Romans 4:16 Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might 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,

• Therefore because of Faith there is Grace so that the promise is true to all the seed. Not just those of the law but also those who come through faith, the faith of Abraham father of us all.

Romans 4:17 (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.

• (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) in the presence of God in whom he believed; God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist into existence.
  • (Father of many nations is a promise God made in Genesis 17:5 "Quickeneth the dead" is a reference to the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Calling things into existence refers to the idea that God creates something from nothing, i.e. Creatio Ex Nihilo. While not in the Bible we can see in 2 Maccabees 7:28 that Creatio Ex Nihilo was a concept understood in ancient Judea.
  • This verse is important because we must understand that Abraham father of the Jews is the father of the people of the covenant. Jews are only Jews if they are in the covenant. A Jew by birth or works cannot claim the covenant and consequently can not be considered a Jew.)

Romans 4:18 Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.

• Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to the promise of God. So shall his seed be.
• ("Father of many nations" is from Genesis 17:4 and the reference to his seed is from Genesis 15:5. Through his faith Abraham was chosen by God to enter into a covenant. These are two of the promises. Hope against hope was that when by human standards Abraham had no hope he turned to God and though Faith had hope through God.)

Romans 4:19 And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb:

• Because he was strong in faith he did not worry that he was a hundred years old and Sarah was past the childbearing age.

Romans 4:20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;

• He believed in God and was strong in his faith giving glory to God.
• (Abraham does the opposite of the original sin see Romans 1:21)

Romans 4:21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.

• Knowing that what was promised would be preformed.

Romans 4:22 And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.

• Therefore it counted for his righteousness.
• (Here is another reference to Genesis 15:6)

Romans 4:23 Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him;

• It was not just for his sake that it was counted.

Romans 4:24 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;

• But also for us that if we believe in our Lord Jesus Christ then it will count for us as well.

Romans 4:25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.

• (Jesus) Who was delivered up for our sins and resurrected for our justification.
• (This verse is a paraphrase of Isaiah 53:12 in the Septuagint. it is significant for us in that Jesus died as a sin sacrifice for us and his resurrection is a sign from God that the sacrifice was excepted.)

Genesis 15:5 - 6

Genesis 17:4 - 5

Isaiah 53:12

Romans 4:13 - 25