Romans 4:1-14

“For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith” (v13).  After explaining that faith in Jesus covers our sins, Paul made it clear that Abraham and his descendants, the Israelites, were also justified by faith and not law.  God’s promises of blessing were made to Abraham before he was circumcised (a symbol of the law, v10), simply on the basis of Abraham’s faith. 

King David also declared (v6-18), “Blessed is the one whose lawless deeds are forgiven.”  Obedience to the law does not earn us anything; we obey God because we have already trusted Him and received mercy.