Romans 4:7

Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. [SAYING], BLESSED ARE THEY WHOSE INIQUITIES ARE FORGIVEN, AND WHOSE SINS ARE COVERED....

1-12 To meet the views of the Jews, the apostle first refers to the example of Abraham, in whom the Jews gloried as their most renowned forefather. However exalted in various respects, he had nothing to boast in the presence of God, being saved by grace, through faith, even as others. Without noticing the years which passed before his call, and the failures at times in his obedience, and even in his faith, it was expressly stated in Scripture that "he believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness," Genesis 15:6. From this example it is observed, that if any man could work the full measure required by the law, the reward must be reckoned as a debt, which evidently was not the case even of Abraham, seeing faith was reckoned to him for righteousness. When believers are justified by faith, "their faith being counted for righteousness," their faith does not justify them as a part...

Verse Romans 4:7. _BLESSED_ ARE _THEY WHOSE INIQUITIES ARE FORGIVEN_] That is, the man is truly _happy_ whose iniquities αιανομιαι, whose _transgressions of the law_ are forgiven; for by these he was exposed to the most grievous punishment. _Whose sins_, αιαμαρτιαι, his innumerable _deviations_ from the strict rule of truth and righteousness, _are covered_-entirely removed out of sight, and thrown into oblivion. See the meaning of the word _sin_ in _Clarke's note on "_Genesis 13:13_"_....

BLESSED - Happy are they: they are highly favored; see the note at Matthew 5:3. WHOSE SINS ARE COVERED - Are concealed; or hidden from the view. On which God will no more look, and which he will no more remember. “By these words,” says Calvin (in loco), “we are taught that justification with Paul is nothing else but pardon of sin.” The word “cover” here has no reference to the atonement, but is expressive of hiding, or concealing that is, of forgiving sin....

EXPOSITION ROMANS 4:1 (5) _Abraham himself shown to have been justified by faith, and not by works, believers being his true heirs._ The main points of the argument may be summarized thus: When Abraham obtained a blessing to himself and to his seed for ever, it was by faith, and not by works, that he is declared to have been justified so as to obtain it. Thus the promise to his seed, as well as to himself, rested on the principle of justification by faith only. The Law, of which the principle was essentially different, could not, and did not, in itself fulfil that promise; and that its fulfilment was not dependent on circumcision, or confined to the circumcised, is further shown by the fact that it was before his own circumcision that he received the blessing and the promise, Hence the seed intended in the promise was his spiritual seed, who a

SAYING, BLESSED ARE THEY,.... These words are cited from Psalms 32:1, and contain the proof of the happiness of justified persons. In this citation the singular number is changed into the plural, to take in all sorts of men, Jews and Gentiles, and very agreeably to the sense of the original; for the word אשרי may be rendered "blessed are they", or, "O the blessednesses"; that is, of everyone of them, WHOSE INIQUITIES ARE FORGIVEN, AND WHOSE SINS ARE COVERED: such whom God justifies by imputing the righteousness of his Son to them, he removes their iniquities from them, which is meant by their being "forgiven", and that "as far as the east is from the west", Psalms 103:12; he casts them behind his back,...

Romans 4:1. _What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness._ He stands as the great Father of believers, and this is the charter given to him, and given to all believers in him. «Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness.» Romans 4:4. _Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt._ That is to say, to him who hopes to be saved by his works, to whom salvation is of merit. He has worked for the reward. He has earned it. Do not talk about grace in that case....

INIQUITES, SINS SIN (_ See Scofield) - (Romans 3:23). _...

CHAPTER 4 _ 1. The Witness of Abraham to Justification. (Romans 4:1 .)_ 2. As Confirmed also by David. (Romans 4:6 .) 3. Circumcision the Sign of the Covenant. (Romans 4:9 .) 4. Faith in Him Who Raiseth the Dead. (Romans 4:13 .) Romans 4:1 Two witnesses are summoned next in whose lives the truth of justification by faith is illustrated. The Jews boasted of Abraham as the father of their nation. “Abraham our father” is still the common phrase used by all orthodox Jews as it was in the days of John the Baptist, as he declared, “Sa

ROMANS 4:1_ A_. THE EXAMPLE OF ABRAHAM. Romans 4:1. The Jewish objector once more: What about Abraham then? (_mg.);_ if the circumcised Israelite is justified on no more favourable terms than the Gentile outsider, how was it with our great forefather? Abraham's case was the _instantia probans_ for Jewish theology. Romans 4:2 f. If Abraham had been justified by works, Paul replies, he has ground of glorying; but however great his glory amongst men, he has none Godwards, Nay, Scripture says, But Abraham _believed God_ and it was counted to him for righteousness (_cf._ Galatians 3:6 f.)....