Romans 4:22-25 (ESV Strong's)
NOTE: Paul is speaking here of Abraham ...
That is why his faith was “counted to him as righteousness.”
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,
who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.
Subject: Righteousness by Faith
In this section of Romans Paul is using Abraham to teach us about faith and the difference between salvation by faith and salvation by fulfilling the requirements of the Law. The Jewish Christians at Rome had come to believe that their "Jewishness" (being circumcised) gave them special privilege in the Church and higher status than Gentile Christians. Paul has been explaining to them that God stated that "Abraham's Faith was accounted to him" prior to him even being circumcised. Therefore, righteousness was not "counted" to him by what he did (circumcision), but by the faith he had in God's promises. His faith was counted to him. Paul then makes the points, so, too, will ours, apart from circumcision and doing the requirements of the Law. Faith is the avenue of righteousness, not works we do (baptism; church attendance; reading the Bible; being kind to others; etc). Faith is the avenue to righteousness.
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