If the promise of being heir of the world were "owed by law" to people, there would be no relationship in it, there would be no
If the promise of being heir of the world were "owed by law" to people, there would be no relationship in it, there would be no personhood of ours; neither the human being nor God would be participating in it. If our life were governed not by a loving God and the human being created by Him, free and choosing relationship with God, but by some terrifying universal code, then violation of the law would mean exile forever from the people of God, while observance would mean automatic inheritance, according to law, without personal relationships, without Encounter.
But the Lord grants us the promise, the inheritance of the world, not for keeping a set of rules and obeying the law, but for faith, that is, the choice of relationship, the recognition that He is God, beyond hope, as with Abraham. And God responds not by fulfilling a contract, signed and sealed, but with mercy and love.
4 Having proved it by argument, he now proves by example, and such example as must have greater weight with the Jews than any other.
4:19 See note ... Rom 4:18
4:20 See note ... Rom 4:18
4:21 See note ... Rom 4:18