Romans 4:3
For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
Romans 4:3
This verse cites Scripture to support the claim: Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness. The use of Genesis 15:6 anchors Paul’s argument in the Hebrew Bible, showing continuity between the Old Testament witness and New Testament teaching. Belief here means wholehearted trust in God’s promises, not a mere intellectual assent. For Abraham, the crucial issue was trusting God’s word about descendants and blessing despite visible impossibilities (a child with Sarah in old age). The cultural context emphasizes acts over faith in many religious environments, but Scripture repeatedly emphasizes faith as the conduit of righteousness. Paul’s legal-appeal mind sees belief as the means by which righteousness is counted. The passage thus demonstrates that righteousness is a divine act of imputing grace to the believer, grounded in faith, not in human works.
The central theological theme is justification by faith grounded in God’s character and promise. The phrase “counted to him for righteousness” introduces a forensic dimension: God declares a sinner righteous on the basis of faith, not performance. This redefines righteousness as God’s accounting, not human achievement. It also anticipates the inclusive scope of the Gospel—descended from Abraham by faith rather than by ethnic lineage or ritual. In the larger arc, it foreshadows the necessity of faith for all who belong to God’s people, setting the stage for the Gentile inclusion.
How does belief become righteousness for us today? Trust in God’s promises in your real life—provision, forgiveness, purpose, and restoration. When you feel unworthy, recall Abraham’s example: the basis of your standing with God is divine faithfulness, not your record. Practically, cultivate daily [trust]-habits: pause to trust God in small moments (a job decision, a health concern, a relationship strain) and watch how faith aligns your actions with God’s character. If you struggle with anxiety about acceptance or performance, repeat truth: I am counted righteous not because I earned it, but because God counted it. This frees you to extend grace to others who are still learning to trust.
Cross-References: Genesis 12:1-3; Romans 3:28; Galatians 3:6; Hebrews 11:8-12; Habakkuk 2:4