Abraham Justified by Faith
For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. Rom 4:2
As was said before, Abraham did show the world of his great faith by his outward circumcision. Christians make an outward show of their decision to follow Jesus by being baptized. The truth is justification takes place in the heart. Faith takes place in the inner man. Faith pleases God. When we believe in our hearts and confess with our mouth the Lord Jesus, we are justified by the washing of His blood.
If Abraham’s own works had been the basis of his justification, he would have had every right to boast in God’s presence. That makes the hypothetical premise of verse 2 unthinkable.
The Rabbis taught that Abraham had a surplus of merit from his works that was available to his descendants. Paul built on that idea and agreed that, assuming that Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about (cf. boasting or bragging in Rom. 2:17, 2:23; 3:27). But, Paul insisted, his boasting could only be before other people, not before God.
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