Romans 4:22

Therefore. This refers to the preceding context (vs. 18-21). It was his steadfast faith that God could and would fulfill all that He had promised that was imputed to Abraham for righteousness. Paul’s analysis of the experience of Abraham provides further evidence as to the kind of faith that can be thus reckoned. The faith that Abraham possessed was no mere belief that God was telling the truth. His life of consistent trust and obedience, despite natural evidence that might have tempted him to think and act otherwise, reveals that his faith was a genuine personal relationship with God. Abraham believed God (vs. 3, 17). That is, Abraham placed his faith in God, not in something impersonal. His faith was not in a doctrine or in a creed but in a Person. Thus it was possible for Abraham to accept and obey whatever the Lord promised or commanded, even when humanly speaking it seemed unreasonable to suppose that such promises and commands could ever be fulfilled.

The Christian’s faith today must be no less than this (COL 312). Our faith must be like Abraham’s, and our lives will clearly reveal whether or not we are enjoying such an experience.

In none of these verses that speak of the reckoning of righteousness, or the accounting of faith for righteousness, is it expressly stated that the righteousness of Christ is imputed to the believer. It is, however, implied in the full meaning of the experience of justification by faith as understood in the light of God’s whole great plan for the restoration of man (see on vs. 3, 5, 8; cf. on ch. 3:25, 26, 28). The law demands righteousness, which man is unable to give. But Jesus while on earth lived a righteous life and developed a perfect character. These He offers as a gift to those who desire them. His life stands for the life of men (see DA 762; EGW Supplementary Material on ch. 4:3-5). Because of Christ’s perfect life, climaxed by His sacrificial death, it is possible for me to be treated as if I myself had fulfilled the requirements of the law. Thus the righteousness of Christ is imputed to me.