Romans 4:1-4
1 What then shall we say that Abraham our father has found according to the flesh? 2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. 3 For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” 4 Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt.
1 What then shall we say that Abraham our father has found according to the flesh? 2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. 3 For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” 4 Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt.
Abraham was the chosen people’s father, and he was only justified by his works (the Law) in the eyes of the people, not God. If what he did had earned God’s favor, he and they could be proud of that. But God actually told us that it was Abraham’s believing what God promised, his faith, that made him righteousness in God’s eyes. So the point again is made that when we do good to earn His favor, it is trying to pay back a debt that is more than we could ever afford. But grace is a gift that is impossible to earn; only the Giver can assign it ultimate value and effectiveness. We cannot work our way to God, only have it given unearned and undeserved (grace).
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