Romans 4

always by faith

Salvation has always come by faith. Continuing the argument on the superiority of the gospel, Paul turned his focus primarily to his Jewish audience; later in his letter, Paul addressed the gentiles in the gathering, but, in the fourth chapter, Paul appeared to be specifically addressing traditional Jews now following The Way. And, to this audience, Paul directly contradicted historical teachings from the Pharisees and Sadducees which led the people of God to believe that righteousness was maintained (not obtained) through religious adherence to the law. Righteousness, as these factions understood, was not available to gentiles because only the Hebrew people—descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—were God’s select and pre-ordained. Therefore, righteousness could not be obtained—only maintained. Moreover, extrapolating doctrine from the exile experience, traditional Jewish teaching began insisting that their favor with God was entirely dependent on legalistic doctrinal fidelity. In short, the sacrifice of the ordained was emphasized over the mercy of God. This teaching became commonplace, and Jesus rebuked the religious elites for it.

“Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.” (Matthew 9:13)

Paul, a Pharisee himself, combated these theological schools of thought by continuing his Socratic approach to Biblical exposition; he not only announced that the gospel was always intended to be available for all (Jew and Gentile, those with the law as well as those without), he also declared that rabbinical teachings contradicted the Scripture that they supposedly held so dearly: God’s favor has always been available to all, and salvation has always come by faith.

“For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith.” (Romans 4:13)

“That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his offspring—not only to the adherent of the law but also to the one who shares the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all.” (Romans 4:16)

Some have interpreted this discourse to conclude that the law, then, is nulled by the covenant of faith that is now available to us; this, however, is out of context of both the current and previous passages. First, as Paul outlined, righteousness was never found through a covenant of law but was always granted through a covenant of faith. To reject the gospel and instead misguidedly attempt to achieve righteousness through doctrinal adherence is to guarantee falling short and incurring wrath. This is why Paul wrote that “For the law brings wrath, but where there is no law there is no transgression” (Romans 4:15). The purposes and intentions of the law are not nullified but rather the incorrect teachings of salvation by works. Paul already noted in previous chapters that the law was to be upheld and that there was a manner of living that directly opposed God. In this passage, regarding the law, he introduced a topic that he expounded on later, but at this point stated that the law was a sign of the righteousness already awarded by faith.

“He received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised.“ (Romans 4:11a)

The people of God were always intended to live contrary to the world, but this way of living was not the source of salvation; instead, kingdom living was a response to the righteousness bestowed by faith and served as a sign to others of the mercy of God. This truth, that has always been, remains true today and even more so because of the blood of Christ and His ultimate fulfillment of the law.

“But the words ‘it was counted to him’ were not written for his sake alone, but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 4:23-24)