A Study of The Book of Romans

Lesson 28 Chapter 4:16 – 19

Verse 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 it is of faith”

a. Therefore - refers to what was just said before it and that is salvation is not of works because works only brings the wrath of God. Justifiable works only exist after faith or salvation has come just as James has described it. James 2:18 “Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.”

b. Since salvation cannot be by works Paul says “it is of faith”

c. This was God’s promise to Abraham and His promise to all that followed Abraham.

“that it might be by grace;”

a. It cannot be of works and grace because works is a debt paid and faith is a work of grace. Remember Paul said works destroys grace. Romans 4:4 "Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt."

b. Remember what Paul taught us in Romans 4:5 "But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness."

“but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,” Remember we are justified exactly as Abraham was by faith.

Verse 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,) before him whom he believed, even God,”

a. That is whose promise he believed; or in whom he trusted.

b. In everything he believed God and had great trust in God concerning His promise to him.

“who quickeneth the dead,”

a. Again the word dead means corpse dead or having no life at all. A dead person cannot resurrect himself, nor can he make a choice, nor can he work works.

b. Ephesians 2:1, 5 "And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; (5.) Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)"

c. Only God can give life, Abraham did not cause himself to be what he was, God caused it and God caused Abraham to believe Him.

d. Remember Sarah’s womb was dead until God quickened it and it is the same with man’s spirit, only God gives life.

e. Could Lazarus raise himself from the grave? No! But Christ did.

“calleth those things which be not as though they were.”

a. This means God can (because He does as He pleases and always accomplishes His own will) speak of things that are yet to be as though they are now or in a present time accomplishment.

b. 1 Corinthians 1:28 "And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:" - If God has declared it then it is already accomplished, and nothing in time or anyone in time can change it.

c. This is why God can say those things which he foretells and promises are so certain, that he may speak of them as already in existence.

d. Let us look again at 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.” Was he at this time? No! but was he going to be? Yes! But God just spoke of it as though it was present. If God has elected something he will call it to be and it is guaranteed to be. The same is with God’s election of the Adopted they are all guaranteed to be saved.

e. This is the power of God and man has neither choice nor power to change it. If God has decreed it, it is certain to be. Deuteronomy 32:39 "See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand."

f. 1 Samuel 2:6 "he LORD killeth, and maketh alive: he bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up."

Verse 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.”

Abraham believed God's promise that he would become the father of many nations. He believed it against all hope; that is, beyond any possible natural hope, because he was past the age of being able to father a child (he was about a hundred years old), and his wife was well past childbearing age (Sarah's womb was also dead). But he believed God and knew it would be. Genesis 15:5-6 "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. (6.) And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness." 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 Sara's womb:”
“According to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.” Without doubt and without interruption.
J. Vernon McGee said - There is no merit in faith itself. You see, there was nothing around Abraham in which he could trust -- nothing that he could feel, nothing that he could see, nothing. All he did was believe God. That's important.
John Gill said - “his faith rested upon the word of God, which showed the nature of it”