Wages or Gift?

What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, discovered in this matter? If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about—but not before God. What does Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”
Now to the one who works, wages are not credited as a gift but as an obligation. However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness. David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the one to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:

“Blessed are those
whose transgressions are forgiven,
whose sins are covered.
Blessed is the one
whose sin the Lord will never count against them.” Romans 4:1-8

There is very simple logic behind this profound doctrine of Justification by Faith. To begin with, Abraham lived and died many generations before Moses, to whom the Law was originally given. So, technically, there was no law for Abraham to keep. We know the ancient patriarchs understood God’s essence. They understood God’s integrity and His faithfulness. They had been taught the doctrine of atonement, as evidenced by the altars they built and the offerings they made at intervals during their lives. The written law, however, was given after the Israelites were led out of Egyptian slavery and established as a nation belonging to God. Therefore, when we are told in the Old Testament that a person “was righteous” or “found grace in the eyes of the Lord,” it was not because he was chalking up points by keeping the law. It was because he knew God and believed God’s Word and trusted in the promises of God. We know they believed and trusted, because they obeyed God’s instructions (Noah, Abram, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph), and because they prayed and made offerings to God (Job).
Notice which comes first. First comes belief. Faith. Then comes obedience. Works. You cannot reverse the order for justification.

Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness. Genesis 15:6

Wages are compensation for work rendered. Gifts are freely given, never earned. If you earned it, it is not a gift, it is wages.

Vv 9-12 Summary: Regarding circumcision, when was Abram declared righteous? Before he was circumcised. Abram’s circumcision, like works, was not a means to justification, but an indicator that justification had taken place. Abraham, then, is the father of all those who believe without circumcision as well as the father of those who are circumcised, if they believe. Read verse 12: "And he is then also the father of the circumcised who not only are circumcised but who also follow in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised." . What about all those babies who were circumcised on the 8th day? They still have to believe in Jesus Christ, their Messiah. Physical circumcision just identified them as racial Jews. To be spiritual Jews, they must have the same kind of faith that justified Abram.

Vv 13-16 Likewise, the promise to Abraham that he would be the father of many nations and his descendants would inherit the world came before the law. Everything God did for Abraham and all God’s promises to Abraham came before the law was given. His righteousness was by faith alone, and his rewards were given by God’s grace. The legalists who keep score are not the heirs of promise. Where there is law, we expect punishment. No law = no violations, no human good comparisons, no competition.

So the requirement is faith. For all. Those without the law, and those under the law, in order that salvation is freely available to all who believe, just as did our father Abraham.

That’s fair.