Romanos 4:16

This verse summarizes the thought of Romans 4:13-15. God gave His promise to make Abraham the father of many nations (Romans 4:13) unconditionally ("in accordance with grace") after the patriarch stood justified. Abraham obtained the promise simply by believing it (i.e., by faith), not by keeping the law. This is the only way that the realization of what God had promised could be certain. This part of Paul’s argument therefore further exalts faith as the only method of justification. [Note: See Robert A. Pyne, "The ’Seed,’ the Spirit, and the Blessing of Abraham," Bibliotheca Sacra 152:606 (April-June 1995):216-17.]

"Faith is helplessness reaching out in total dependence upon God." [Note: Mounce, p. 127.]