Romans 4:22

διὸ : because of this signal faith, evinced so triumphantly in spite of all there was to quell it. ἐλογίσθη : i.e., his faith was reckoned to him as righteousness. That which needs to be reckoned as righteousness is not in itself righteousness on this the Apostle's argument rests in Romans 4:1-8; yet it is not arbitrarily that faith is so reckoned. The spiritual attitude of a man, who is conscious that in himself he has no strength, and no hope of a future, and who nevertheless casts himself, upon, and lives by, the word of God which assures him of a future, is the necessarily and eternally right attitude of all souls to God. He whose attitude it is, is at bottom right with God. Now this was the attitude of Abraham to God, and it is the attitude of all sinners who believe in God through Christ; and to him and them alike it is reckoned by God for righteousness. The Gospel does not subvert the religious order under which Abraham lived; it illustrates, extends, and confirms it.