Romans 4:13-25
It is hard to follow Paul’s argument, but I will try to highlight some items:
- Abraham believed (had faith) and he was reckoned by God as righteous.
- Abraham did not have the Law. That came hundreds of years later with Moses.
- Abraham was circumcised, but 13 or more years after he was reckoned by God as righteous.
- Abraham is the father of “many nations”, not just the Jews only but the Gentiles also.
- The Jews have the Law and circumcision; the Gentiles have neither.
- Obeying the Law (our works?) cannot make us righteous; the Law only shows us how sinful we are.
- Lacking both that Law and circumcision, Gentiles can also be reckoned as righteous by faith – as was their father of “many nations”, Abraham.
All of that to highlight and possibly clarify verse 16: 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…
Slava Bohu!