We must look at the Old Testament with New Testament eyes. To look at the New Testament with Old Testament eyes will cause confusion and error in our dividing of the word of God. We have seen Paul establish both the law of works and the law of faith. The law of works tells us of the works and conditions of man that he brings before God as our source of righteousness and therefore justification. It is the salvation based on the conditions that man fulfills. In contrast the law of faith tells us of the meritorious work of Jesus Christ whereby He was set forth as the propitiation for the sins of God’s elect before, during, and after the cross. That work thereby earning righteousness that was imputed to those of God’s choosing. That is the law of faith. It is not righteousness by our works, is righteousness by the works of Christ. It is not conditioned on what we do, but conditioned on what He did. Paul says the righteousness of God is now manifest in Romans 3:21. Righteousness could not be merely declared, it had to be worked out. Paul again terms this concept the law of faith. He will use faith as a synonym for this law throughout this chapter. To forget this law of faith will cause confusion in Romans 4.
Romans 4:1 What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? 2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.
Paul starts off by describing how the law of works ends. It ends in man glorifying himself. It is to take glory from God. It is to share in the righteousness earned by Christ. God will not share in the glory due His Christ.
Galatians 2:21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.
If righteousness could come by the works or conditions of man then Paul says Christ has died in vain. The fact is man cannot contribute to his standing before God other than to offer sin. We are sinners in our nature. Sinners can only sin. God in the body and soul of Jesus Christ made sinners acceptable. This is the law of faith. We do not seek acceptance before God by works or conditions because it is revealed to us the through the law of faith we are already made acceptable. This was done for Abraham in the same way it was done for us today.
The Jews would say because of their bloodline, they were accepted of God. Paul says not so fast. Acceptance with God does not depend on the flesh. The pharisees would claim Abraham as their father and would point to their works to justify themselves. This was the law of works in action by man. Any other condition than the law of faith cannot stand before God. Man’s fulfillment of conditions cause glory among men, but Paul says not before God. We are not co-participants in our justification before God. We just like Abraham cannot merit or commend ourselves to God. Personal faith, a moral walk among men, or attempting to follow the law cannot make one accepted before God.