Romans 4

I have sinned against heaven, and before you; he charges himself with sin before ever his father charges him with it. 3. We glorify God by believing (Romans 4:20): Abraham was strong in faith, giving glory to God. Unbelief affronts God, it gives him the lie; he that believes not…

Quest. Why should faith save and justify more than any other grace? Resp. 1. Because of God's sanction: He has appointed this grace to be justifying, and he does it because faith is a grace that takes a man off himself, and gives all the honor to Christ and free-grace (Romans 4:…

And he is just, 1. Because he punishes sinners by a law. Where there is no law there is no transgression, (Romans 4:15) But God has given men a law, and they broke it, therefore he punishes them justly. 2. God is just in punishing the wicked, because he never punishes them, but…

This is most false, as may be proved both by example and reason: 1. By example: Abraham was a regenerate man, but Abraham was not justified by works but by faith (Romans 4:3). Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness. 2. By reason: How can those works ju…

5. We take God's name in vain, when we pray to him, but do not believe in him. Faith is the great grace that honors God (Romans 4:20): Abraham being strong in faith, gave glory to God; but when we pray to God, but do not mix faith with our prayer, we take his name in vain. I may…

2. The first covenant being broken, allowed the sinner no remedy, all doors of hope were shut: but the new covenant allows the sinner a remedy; it leaves room for repentance, it provides a Mediator (Hebrews 12:24), Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant. 2nd Difference. The firs…

Oh, says a believer, my corruption is so strong, that surely I shall never get the mastery of it: but the power of God can fulfill his promise. Thus Abraham looked at God's power, (Romans 4:21) being fully persuaded that what God had promised, he was able to perform. He believed…

3. We hallow and sanctify God's name when we trust in his name (Psalm 33:21): We have trusted in his holy name. No way can we bring more revenues of honor to God, or make his crown shine brighter than by confiding in him (Romans 4:20): Abraham was strong in faith giving glory to…

(1.) Because it is a God-exalting grace. It glorifies God (Romans 4:20). Abraham being strong in faith, gave glory to God.

(1.) Had we the kingdom of heaven presently, as soon as ever grace is infused, then God would lose much of his glory. 1. Where would be our living by faith, which is the grace that brings in the chief revenues of glory to God (Romans 4:20)? 2. Where would be our suffering for Go…

4. That he answered the Law and the penalty of it (Romans 8:3): "God sent forth his Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh; that the righteousness of the Law might be fulfilled in us" (Galatians 3:13): "Christ has redeemed us from the curse…

1. That the whole active and passive obedience of Christ was requisite to our justification; we stand in need of them both, and this will appear undeniably if we observe, That it is the justification of sinners that Christ stands engaged for; so the Scripture calls it (Romans 4:…

Qu. 8. How many we sanctify the name of God in the use of Gospel institutions? Answ. 1. By a holy reverence of his sovereign authority appointing of them. 2. A holy regard to his special presence in them. 3. Faith in his promises annexed to them. 4. Delight in his will, wisdom,…

What is the proper effect and use of a sacrament? To be a sign and seal of the covenant between God and his people, and of those spiritual blessings which are promised therein (Genesis 17:10, 11; Romans 4:11; Exodus 12; Matthew 26). How many sacraments are there?

Q. Of what or of what materials did he create the world? A. Not of any pre-existent matter, but of nothing (Hebrews 11:3; Romans 4:17). Q. How do you mean when you say that all things are made of nothing? For the body of Adam was made of the dust of the ground, and fishes of the…

This faith is a miracle of miracles, for it is founded — as the earth is — upon mere nothing in itself, and yet bears the weight and stress of sins, of the devil, yes of God himself. And this is the faith you are converted by, in believing on him who justifies the ungodly (Roman…

If the greatness of your sins is objected against you, plead again that 'plenteous redemption is with him' (Psalm 130:7) — and if you have not enough to pardon me, say, 'I am content to go without.' If that you are ungodly — say, 'I believe on him who justifies the ungodly' (Rom…

This we may make use of, whether we be in necessity, and would be relieved: or in any peril, and would be succored: or in what extremity soever, when means do fail us. Secondly, if he made all things of nothing: then he is able also, in respect of his promises made in Christ, To…

From hence we learn two instructions: First, seeing Abraham is the Father of the faithful, Romans 4:11: and our glory is to be children of faithful Abraham; Therefore we must all learn, as good children to follow our Father, in framing our lives according to God's calling: when…

There is a third, a more spiritual or mystical reason: and that reason God had in making Abraham live in Canaan as a stranger; Namely, to teach all Christian men their duty, to the worlds end. Abraham is the Father of the faithful, Rom. 4.11. And this is our honour to be the chi…

Again, I answer, that if we take it in the sense of Scripture, It is true, that God justifies a wicked man. For Saint Paul says, Romans 4. To him that works not, but believes in him that justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted to him for righteousness.

And the answer is, by true saving faith: and it is proved thus. Abraham believed this promise by the faith that justified him, Romans 4:10-11. But Abraham and Sarah believed it both by one faith: therefore Sarah believed that promise by the faith that also justified her.

When we are said to be justified by faith; it is by the righteousness of Christ imputed to us. Abraham's To credere, his act of believing, was imputed to him for righteousness (Romans 4:3). It is taken generally among the learned, for a singular opinion of Master Wotton, that To…

As Abraham came to the first assurance of his justification, so we, and all that believe, as Abraham did; for he is made a pattern to us in point of justification (Romans 4:23). Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him (v. 24), but for us also, to wh…

The consequence is plain from the law of contraries: for, if the Lord shame us with a sight and sense of sin; he does not then, first comfort and encourage us, with the sight and sense of sanctification. Minor is proved (Ezekiel 16:63; Romans 4:5). Ezekiel 16:63: That you may re…

The conditional promises are made to poor drooping souls, not in respect of such conditions, or as they are qualified with such gifts and duties of sanctification; but in respect of their union with Christ, to whom the promises belong (Galatians 3:26, 28, 29). The fruits of such…

If the promise be made sure of God to faith out of grace; then it is not first made sure to faith out of works. But the promise is made sure of God to faith out of grace (Romans 4:5): to him that works not, but believes on him, that justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted…

First, we do believe, that in our effectual calling, God draws us to union with Christ (John 6:44), shedding abroad his Spirit in our hearts (Romans 5:5), and working faith in us to receive Christ (John 1:12, 13), and to live by faith upon him (Galatians 2:20). Secondly, we are…

And it is so of grace, as that the righteousness of God wherein it is due to us, can be no other but that of his faithfulness in his promises. For neither we nor our works are capable of an eternal reward by the way of merit, that is, that the reward should be reckoned to us not…

And during this season it was of necessity that they should be kept under a Law that made nothing perfect. For as our Apostle speaketh, if they which are of the Law be heirs, faith is made void (Romans 4:14); and if righteousness come by the Law, then is Christ dead in vain (Gal…

And so in the first covenant which was given in a form of law, attended with a penal sanction, yet the foundation of it was in a promise of a free and undeserved reward, even of the eternal enjoyment of God, which no goodness or obedience in the creature could possibly merit the…

And Chrysost. inclines to that notion of the word. But [⟨in non-Latin alphabet⟩] is used in all good Authors, for not only to find, but to obtain by our endeavors; so do we render it, and so we ought to do (Romans 4:1; Hebrews 4:16). He obtained effectually eternal Redemption by…

Hence in this promise and the confirmation of it, there was the highest engagement of the faithfulness and veracity of God. There was so to the end that the promise might be sure to all the seed (Romans 4:16). Therefore God does not only declare the relation of it to his essenti…

Imitatores is not used in our language, and when it is, it rather signifies mimicks, or contains some reflection of blame or weakness, than what it is here applied to. Therefore we render it followers, that is, in doing what they did, treading and walking in their steps, as our…

In this condition, God of his sovereign grace first calls him to the saving knowledge of himself, and by degrees accumulates him with all the favors and privileges before mentioned. Hence in the close of his whole course he had no cause to glory in himself neither before God nor…

We must consider the design of the Apostle, and scope of the place, and what they do require. The word is used only in this place, though the verb, [in non-Latin alphabet], be elsewhere (Romans 4:21; chapter 14:15), to signify a full satisfaction of mind, in what we are persuade…

Therefore as God engages his omnipotency or all-sufficiency as the foundation of all his covenant actings towards us (Genesis 17:1), so he often pleads the same power to assure us of the accomplishment of his promises (Isaiah 40:28, 29). And it is expressly asserted as the princ…

(3.) I have fully proved on that place, that the Apostle in that expression intendeth only the days and times of the Messiah, or of the Gospel, commonly called among the Jews, [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉] the World to come, that new Heaven and Earth, wherein righteousness should…

Besides this main promise, which concerns righteousness and life everlasting in Christ, there be other particular promises touching strength in temptations, comfort in afflictions, and such like, which depend on the former: and they also are the object of justifying faith: and w…

A righteous man moves in a higher sphere, he penetrates the clouds, Moses saw him who is invisible (Hebrews 11:27). Sense and reason are too low of stature to see Christ; faith climbs up, not into the tree as Zacchaeus, but within the veil, and there sees Jesus: a holy person se…

So the Corinthians are said to be Saints by calling (1 Corinthians 1:2), and (Hebrews 3:1): Holy Brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling. Now the Saints are a called people, first, because all they have and enjoy is from God's calling; a Christian is nothing and has nothing…

Reason 4. Paul in Romans 4 stands much upon this, to prove that justification by faith is not conferred by the sacraments. And from the circumstance of time he gathers that Abraham was first justified and then afterward received circumcision, the sign and seal of this righteousn…

The fourth abuse is touching the effect and efficacy of repentance, for they make it a meritorious cause of remission of sins and of life everlasting — flat against the word of God. Paul says notably in Romans 4:24: we are justified freely by his grace through the redemption whi…

Where he makes an opposition between faith and doubting: thereby giving us directly to understand, that to be certain, and to give assurance is of the nature of faith. (Romans 4:20-22) Paul says of Abraham, that he did not doubt of the promise of God through unbelief: but was st…

The judgment of the ancient Church. Ambrose on Romans 4: They are blessed to whom without any labor or work done, iniquities are remitted and sin covered: no works of repentance required of them, but only that they believe. And (chapter 3): Neither working anything, nor repaying…

If this were Christ's end in dying and rising, it was his Father's end too, who appointed him to death, and raised him by his mighty power. And since he was delivered for our offences, and rose again for our justification (Romans 4:25), the government he is invested with, being…

And the Scripture teaches us, that God the Father has constituted his Son, as God-Man, and in his kingdom of grace, or mediatorial kingdom, to be the heir of the world, that he might in this kingdom have the heathen for his inheritance, and the utmost ends of the earth for his p…

From this confidence, springs trust or hope, which is to wait and look for the help, which in confidence we assure ourselves of from the Lord (Psalm 33:18, 19, 20, 21). Yes, although means be wanting, we give glory to God (Romans 4:10; 2 Kings 6:16). From hence cometh it, that w…

Now let us see what particulars are forbidden, and what commanded. First, we see forbidden in the first part, the making of images to liken God, or to worship him, whether graven or painted (Romans 4:12; Ezekiel 8:10; John 5:21). No image of God must be made, because he is a Spi…

2. It is called pleasing to the Lord, in respect of the end, and as it is a means to the glorifying of His grace, and the performance of His Promise to the Mediator; for by this, His grace comes to be glorified, and He has access, to perform what He has promised to the Mediator.…