“Does this blessedness then come upon the circumcised only, or upon the uncircumcised also? For we say that faith was accounted to Abraham for righteousness.” – Romans 4:9
From Romans 3:21 onward, Paul has been building a case that salvation is by grace through faith—apart from works. Why? Because if salvation could be earned, then man could boast. But boasting is excluded. If we think we’ve contributed anything to our salvation, we’ve misunderstood grace entirely. Salvation is not a reward for effort; it’s a gift from God. To prove this, Paul brings forward two towering figures from Israel’s history—Abraham and David. Abraham, the father of the nation, saw the promise of the Messiah through types and shadows. David, the beloved king, echoed the same truth in Psalm 32, rejoicing in the forgiveness of sins. One lived before the Law, the other after it. Yet both proclaimed the same message: salvation has always been by grace through faith.
This isn’t a New Testament innovation—it’s an Old Testament reality. Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. Moses was chosen by grace, not merit. Ruth, a Gentile widow, was grafted into the lineage of Christ by faith. Naaman, a Syrian commander, was healed and humbled through obedience to God’s word. From patriarchs to prophets, Jews to Gentiles, the pattern is consistent: God saves by grace, not by human effort. Paul even addresses the invisible objector in Romans—someone who might ask, “Then why the Law?” Paul answers: the Law reveals sin, but it cannot remove it. Circumcision, too, had a purpose—not to save, but to signify a heart already changed by grace.
David’s words in Psalm 32 are especially powerful. He writes, “Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity” (Psalm 32:1–2, NKJV). Paul quotes this in Romans 4:6 to show that righteousness is imputed—not earned. The word “blessed” (makarios) means happy, favored, and enjoying God’s extended benefits. David wasn’t celebrating his own goodness; he was basking in the joy of unearned forgiveness. Even after grievous sin, he was restored—not by works, but by grace. And if Abraham, the greatest patriarch, was declared righteous by faith, then no one can claim a better path. All must come the same way—empty-handed, trusting in the mercy of God.
So what does this mean for us today? It means we must stop trying to earn what God freely gives. It means we must reject any gospel that adds human effort to divine grace. It means we must follow the example of Abraham—believing God, turning from self, and resting in His promise. Salvation is not a ladder we climb; it’s a gift we receive. If you’ve been trying to prove your worth to God, lay it down. Come like David—broken but believing. Come like Ruth—outsider but welcomed. Come like Abraham—ungodly but justified. And walk in the joy of the one who is truly blessed: the one to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works.
“In a very real sense, Abraham was justified while still on Gentile ground, and this leaves the door wide open for other Gentiles to be justified, entirely apart from circumcision.” – William MacDonald
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