The Examples of Abraham and David in Romans 4
Preparing us for Romans 4.
Paul will argue his case for a person being “justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law” as we continue into Romans 4.
No doubt, some with a Jewish background would have had their doubts about Paul’s point. So, to help convince them of the truth, Paul will turn to two individuals from the Old Testament that the Jewish people held in high esteem: Abraham and David.
If Paul is able to establish his case through these gentlemen there is no appeal, for these two are right on top in the Jewish hall of fame. One lived prior to the Law of Moses and the other lived while the Mosaic covenant was thundering along. One was justified before he was circumcised and the other after he was circumcised. So that faith was the basis of acceptance with God before the coming of the law and after it arrived. - McGuiggan, Romans, 138
Paul, writing by inspiration of the Holy Spirit, addressed these issues thoroughly.
Fundamental misunderstandings of the gospel of Christ require patience and thoroughness by the teacher. Sometimes we get upset when after one brief conversation, someone doesn’t obey the gospel. Our study of Romans hopefully reminds us that we need to be more patient.
Paul was so patient with his own brothers and sisters in Christ. Think of all the time he devoted to helping the church in Corinth through the colossal mess they had on their hands (1 and 2 Corinthians).
In our religiously confused world today, we need to be people who proclaim the word of God “with all longsuffering and teaching” (2 Timothy 4:2). God is longsuffering with us (2 Peter 3:9) - shouldn’t we extend the same to others?