Romans 4:1-10 Quoted from NLT

1-3 “Abraham was humanly speaking, the founder of our Jewish nation.  What did he discover about being made right with God? (2) If his good deeds had made him acceptable to God, he would have something to boast about. But that was not God’s way. (3) For Scripture tells us, ‘Abraham believed God, and God counted him righteous because of his faith.’”

4-6“When people work, their wages are not a gift, but something they have earned. (5) But people are counted as righteous, not because of their work, but because of their faith in God who forgives sinners.  (6) David also spoke of this when he described the happiness of those who are righteous without working for it:

7-8 “‘Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sins are put out of sight. (8) Yes, what joy for those whose record the Lord has cleared of sin’”

9-10 “Now, is this blessing only for the Jews, or is it also for the uncircumcised Gentiles? We, we have been saying that Abraham was counted as righteous by God because of faith, (10) But how did this happen? Was he counted as righteous only after he was circumcised? Clearly, God accepted Abraham before he was circumcised!”

My comments:  I believe this passage is saying we are counted as righteous through our faith, and not our works just like Abraham was.  Abraham had plenty of unrighteous works, but it was his faith that made him righteous in God’s eyes, and the gift/blessing of righteousness is for the Gentiles as well as the Jews.   

We can see this same message in Galatians 3:6-9 “In the same way Abraham believed God; and it was counted to him for righteousness, because of his faith. (7) The real children of Abraham then, are those who put their faith in God. (8) What’s more, the Scriptures looked forward to this time when God would declare the Gentiles to be righteous because of their faith.  God proclaimed the good news long ago when he said, “All nations will be blessed through you.” (9) So all who put their faith in Christ share the same blessing Abraham received because of his faith.”