Romans 4 Podcast Commentary: God Credits His Righteousness to All Who Believe in Jesus

In our Romans 4:16-25 podcast and commentary, we dive into a transformative section of Paul’s letter to the Romans. This passage highlights the power of faith in God’s promises and reveals that righteousness is credited to all who believe in Jesus Christ. The phrase “The words ‘it was credited to him’ were written not for him alone, but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness—for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.” captures the heart of this passage and its implications for all believers. It underscores that just as God credited righteousness to Abraham for his faith, He now credits righteousness to us when we believe in Jesus Christ, who was raised from the dead for our justification.

Exploring Romans 4:16-25

Romans 4:16-25 emphasizes the centrality of faith in receiving God’s promises. Paul explains that the promise of righteousness does not come through observing the law but through faith. He uses the example of Abraham, whose faith in God’s promise to make him the father of many nations was counted as righteousness (Romans 4:3). Paul makes it clear that the same principle applies to us today. Just as Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness, we too are credited with righteousness when we place our faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The key themes in this passage focus on the foundational truth of the gospel: righteousness comes through faith, not works. “He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification” (Romans 4:25). Jesus’ resurrection is central to our justification, as it affirms that God’s promise of salvation is secure.

Commentary Insights

Engaging with Romans 4:16-25 through study guides, sermons, and theological commentaries offers deep insights into the nature of faith and justification. These resources help believers better understand how God credits righteousness to us—not through our works, but through our trust in Jesus Christ. As we reflect on this passage, we are reminded that our hope is built not on our own efforts, but on God’s faithfulness and His promise fulfilled in Christ’s death and resurrection.