Romans 4 Justification by Faith in the Old Testament

“What does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”” Rom 4:3

Picture an attorney in a court room arguing his case before the judge. He presents the facts of his case and he presents the laws that are relevant to his case. However, there is one other important ingredient necessary to convince the judge of the validity of his position. He must present the legal precedence for his position. He must present something that happened in a courtroom many years ago that was favorable to the present case.

Paul has just presented the argument in Romans 3 for justification by faith…how a sinful man can be declared righteous by having righteousness from God credited to him. He can hear the Jewish critics saying “Paul, there is no precedence for this. You’re coming up with something new.” In Romans 4 Paul presents the precedence by going to a couple of highly respected people in the Old Testament…Abraham and David. The Jewish race began with Abraham. He is considered their patriarch. The Messiah was promised the throne of David and the prophets said the Messiah would arise from the descendants of David.

Regarding Abraham, Paul quotes Genesis 15:6 where it says “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” The Jewish critic would respond that Abraham was circumcised and this was necessary for right standing with God. You must be identified as a Jew to have right standing with God. Paul answers by pointing out that Abraham was declared righteous before he was circumcised. Again the Jewish critic declares that the law is necessary for one to be righteous. Paul answers “It was not through law that Abraham and his offspring received the promise that he would be heir of the world, but through the righteousness that comes by faith.”

David speaks of the “blessedness” of being justified by faith when he says in Psalms 32 “Blessed are they whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will never count against him.”

Justification by faith is not something new. There is precedence for it in the Old Testament. Some would argue that it is too good to be true. Others would say that is why the gospel is “astounding good news”.