Romans 4:1 What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, has found?

Romans 4:2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he has whereof to glory, but not before God.

Romans 4:2 For if Abraham were justified.(Matthew 12:37).by works, he has whereof to glory.(he has much to feel great about {at an ordinary consiousness level}), but not before God.
Why? Romans 14:23 "...for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.".Why? becauses it misses the mark, the mark of a higher consciousness, that of faith:.Philippians 3:14.

Romans 4:3 For what says the scripture? Abraham.believed God.(a thing of the heart).and it was counted.(words 'was counted' and in similar ways in other places in this chapter, are same as word 'imputed' in verse 22 below and means 'to think', 'to intend' or purpose; 'to imagine', 'invent' or devise; 'to reckon'; 'to esteem', that is, to impute to a man what belongs to him once he's awakened to it, because if one remains unawakened to something, how can he know what he may have?).unto him for righteousness.

From Genesis 15:6.

Romans 4:4 Now to him that works is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.

One feels that he did what was required and therefore the Creator owes him.

Romans 4:5 But to him that works not, but believes on him that justifies the unGodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

Romans 4:5 But to him that works not.(works not to get that which is available as a gift, but you don't know its there for you, that is, if you were aware of the available gift you could simply just accept it (Romans 5:17) and don't have to jump through religious hoops to get it), but believes on him that justifies the unGodly.(one doesn't have to be Godly to be in God's good graces), his faith is counted for righteousness..(Philippians 3:9)

Romans 4:6 Even as David also describes the happiness of the man, unto whom God imputes righteousness without works.

David describes this in Psalms 31 and 32. Our God, the one and only true Creator creates ‘righteousness' by 'counting' it (see verse 3 just above) and annuls sin by 'not counting' it. The true God darn well does as He pleases but it's always good for all.

Romans 4:7 Saying, Happy are they whose iniquities are forgiven and whose sins are covered.

Romans 4:8 Happy is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.

See note at verse 6 just above.

Romans 4:9 Comes this happiness then upon the circumcision only or upon the uncircumcision also? For we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness.

Romans 4:10 How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision.

Romans 4:11 And he received the sign of circumcision.(Genesis 17:23), a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised, that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised, that righteousness might be imputed unto them also.

What sign did Abraham have back then?.Genesis 15:6.
What sign do we have today that is a seal of the righteousness of faith which we have?.Galatians 3:29.

Creator's way is to have done unto one and apply to all who believe:.1Corinthians 15:21,22; Romans 4:16; 6:10,11; Hebrews 7:27; 9:12,26,28; 10:1,2,10,14; 1Peter 3:18; 2Corinthians 5:21; Colossians 1:22.

Romans 4:12 And the father of circumcision to them who are not.('them who are not' refers to the Gentiles, who are made a part of it all because of the spiritual quality of faith and not as the Jews, who felt that physical circumcision was necessary) of the circumcision.(circumcision referring to the Old Testament Jews who were circumcised) only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham.(Genesis 12:3), which he had being yet uncircumcised.

Romans 4:13 For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.

Romans 4:13 For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham or to his seed.(his children), through the law.(that is, through a bunch of do's & don'ts as a law would dictate necessary, such as what the onerous.Mosaic Law was later comprised of, but rather, it's belief that is important), but through the righteousness of faith.(faith is the foundation that replaces law; belief is the being alive in daily life to that which is a person's foundation for living).

Romans 4:14 For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void and the promise made of none effect.

The attitude of 'Hey, I kept the law, now where's my reward?"

Romans 4:15 Because the law works wrath.(the law as laid down to follow works wrath {original 'desires', 'coveting'}; Hey! I didn't get anything for being good according to some law that I thought would fulfill me by giving me, only me, just me, what I want {such as this law?.Matthew 19:16-21}, so I'm angry about it). For where no law is, there is no transgression.

And so, sin can no longer count against you, you who are in a relationship with God and that's because sin is all gone. That doesn't mean you don't any longer reap what you may have sown. We are here to learn things and feedback for actions is the teacher:.Romans 6:1,2,15.

For where no law is, t5hat is, it isn't necessary to follow some law to gain something, for in Christ you have all good things. Just be in Christ:.1Corinthians 3:21.

Romans 4:16 Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace, to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed.(that is, those who have the heritage of ancient Israel), not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham.(speaking here of the Gentiles. Who were they?), the father of us all.

Romans 4:17 As it is written.(written where?.Genesis 17:5), I have made you a father of many nations before him.('before him' refers to 'in his view or sight').whom he believed, even God.(God said it and he believed it; how powerful is that?), who quickens the dead.(resurrects them; makes the dead alive.{Ephesians 2:5}, making them 'born again':.1Peter 1:23).and calls those things which be not as though they were.

God calls you perfect and holy and you probably never thought of yourself being that way, but that's how God thinks of each one of us. your feeling bad about things (*). Even when it seems like there is no hope, nothing is impossible in the realm of the Infinite. It helps to realze why sin no longer counts.

Romans 4:18 Who against hope believed in hope.(or, when one would think there would not be any reason to be hopeful, there always is), that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall your seed be.

Romans 4:19 And.(talking of Abraham, verse 16 above).being not weak in faith, he considered not.(on considered not).his own body dead.(that is, unable to function as it once did), when he was about a hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara's womb.

Beyond the years of having children, God sent an angel to announce that they would have a child:.Genesis 18:9-14.

Romans 4:20 He staggered.(original for 'staggered' is the 'separation of doubt', that is, he didn't allow his mind to entertain doubts, which would have separated him from God).not at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strong in faith giving glory to God.(*);

"Strong in faith".has to do with being fully.persuaded, as the word 'faith' here denotes in the original.

Ephesians 6:10 "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might."
2Timothy 2:1 "You therefore my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Emmanuel."

Romans 4:21 And being fully persuaded that, what he.(God).had promised, he was able also to perform.

But, what if you're not fully persuaded? Well if you want to be or feel you need to be, what then?

Romans 4:22 And therefore it was imputed.(word 'imputed' same as words 'was counted' in verse 3 above and similar words in this chapter).to him for righteousness

Imputed to him is same as a gift:.Romans 5:17.

Romans 4:23 Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him;

Romans 4:24 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him.(God).that raised up Emmanuel our Lord from the dead.(*).

Romans 4:25 Who was delivered for our offences and was raised for our justification.

Romans 4:25 Who was delivered for our offences.(original here 'for our offences' can mean both ways, that is, offences you cause to another and offences from others {you get upset at something another says or does} that cause or threaten you to sidestep your relationship with God).and was raised for our justification.

Galatians 5:1.

Our justification; how came about our justification?.Romans 5:17.

....continues to Chapter 5

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