Romans 4:16
“For this cause it is of faith, that it may be according to grace, to the end that the promise may be sure to all the offspring, not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all.”
What does Romans 4:16 mean?
Paul is explaining why God designed salvation to work through faith rather than through keeping the law. When blessing comes by faith, it remains a gift of grace, which means it's genuinely available to everyone who believes, not just those who can perfectly follow rules. This keeps God's promise solid and unbreakable for all of Abraham's descendants, both those who lived under the Jewish law and those (like non-Jewish believers) who follow Abraham's example of simply trusting God. By making it about faith rather than performance, God ensures that his promise isn't fragile or conditional on human perfection, but stands firm for all who believe.