The Crediting of Righteousness to Abraham and to Christians
Thinking about Romans 4:23-25.
Now it was not written for his sake alone that it [righteousness] was imputed to him [Abraham], but also for us. It shall be imputed to us who believe in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification. (Romans 4:23-25)
Abraham’s faith is not just some interesting story in the Old Testament limited to the children’s Sunday School.
Abraham’s unwavering faith in God is an example for Christians today.
Just as Righteousness was Credited to Abraham, so Righteousness is Credited to Christians.
What is “credited” to Christians is the same thing bestowed on Abraham: righteousness. The accounting term (logizomai) indicates that, as in a ledger book, some amount is put on the positive balance side. In the case of Christians, what is brought forward to the plus side is faith counted as righteousness. Clearly then, the entire transaction is based on faith. - Pollard, Truth for Today Commentary, 155
God “accounted” or “imputed” or “credited” righteousness to Abraham’s account based on Abraham’s unswerving faithfulness in God’s promises and obedient trust in God.
Abraham’s faith was NOT reckoned for righteousness BEFORE he acted upon that faith, but at the point in time when such faith manifested itself in action. As it was with Abraham, so it is with us. - Wacaster, Studies in Romans, 173
If we desire righteousness to be “credited” to our account, then we must have the same kind of faith as Abraham.
Jesus’ Death and Resurrection.
Righteousness shall be imputed to those who “believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead, who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification.”
He was delivered up on account of or because of our trespasses. That is, our trespasses made his death necessary. And our justification made his resurrection necessary. There would have been no justification without the risen Lord for there would have been no faith without the risen Lord. - McGuiggan, Romans, 153
What Paul says here is very similar to what Isaiah said of the “Suffering Servant,” demonstrating Christ’s fulfillment of that prophecy.
Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed. (Isaiah 53:4-5)
He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many, For He shall bear their iniquities. Therefore I will divide Him a portion with the great, And He shall divide the spoil with the strong, Because He poured out His soul unto death, And He was numbered with the transgressors, And He bore the sin of many, And made intercession for the transgressors. (Isaiah 53:11-12)
Without the death and resurrection of Jesus, none of us could ever have righteousness “credited” to our account. Because of what He has done for us, we can stand before God as forgiven and justified.