Matthew Poole and continuators on Romans 4:24

24. But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead.

Here it may be enquired. If Abraham's Faith did justifie him, and it was imputed to him for Righteousness, what doth this concern us? The Apostle Answers it was recorded of him for our sakes. vid. Chap. 15.4. And to us there shall be the like imputation, if we believe in God, that raised up Iesus our Lord from the dead.

This is a greater Act of Faith than Abraham's was. And the nature of justifying Faith lies rather in aff[illegible: 1 letter]ance, or in putting trust in God through our Lord Iesus Christ, then in assent or in giving credit to the Truth of his promise. Q. Why doth the Apostle single out this Act of raising Christ from the dead to describe the Father by? A. To maintain the proportion betwixt the Faith of Abraham, and the Faith of his Seed; that as his respected the Power of God, in raising (as it were) the dead, so in like sort should ours. So some. But the Apostle speaks, as if there were some special reason and ground for confidence in God for justification in this Act of raising Christ from the dead; and indeed nothing is more fit to establish our Faith in perswasion of our justification than this; for when God raised up our Lord Iesus Christ, having loosed the pains of death, he gave full assurance, that his Justice is fully satisfied for our sins. Had not Christ Iesus our surety paid the utmost farthing that was due for our sins, he had still continued in prison, and under the power of death. Hence 'tis that the Apostle Peter tells us, 1 Pet. 1.3. That God hath begotten us to a lively hope of the Heavenly Inheritance by the Resurrection of Christ from the dead; there being no more effectual means to perswade us of the pardon of sin, of reconciliation with God, and of acceptance to eternal Life, then that Jesus Christ our surety and sponsor is risen from the dead.