Romans 4:2

“For if Abraham were justified by works, etc..] That Abraham was not, and could not be justified by works, is clear from hence, that if this was his case, he hath whereof to glory; which will be allowed him before men, on account of his pious life and conversation: but not before God; who saw all the iniquity of his heart, and was privy to all his failings and infirmities: besides, glorying before God in a man's own works, is contrary to the scheme and method of God's grace; is excluded by the doctrine of faith; nor is there any place for glorying before God but in Christ, and his righteousness: if therefore Abraham had not that of which he could glory before God, he could not be justified by…”

“For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God--"If works were the ground of Abraham's justification, he would have matter for boasting; but as it is perfectly certain that he hath none in the sight of God, it follows that Abraham could not have been justified by works." And to this agree the words of Scripture.”

“For if Abraham ... - This is the answer of the apostle. If Abraham was justified on the ground of his own merits, he would have reason to boast, or to claim praise. He might regard himself as the author of it, and take the praise to himself; see Romans 4:4. The inquiry, therefore, was, whether in the account of the justification of Abraham, there was to be found any such statement of a reason for self-confidence and boasting. But not before God - In the sight of God. That is, in his recorded judgment, he had no ground of boasting on account of works. To show this, the apostle appeals at once to the Scriptures, to show that there was no such record as that Abraham could boast that he was…”

“The meaning is, If Abraham had been justified by works, he would have had room to glory. But he had not room to glory. Therefore he was not justified by works. Romans 4:3”

“Abraham: Rom 3:20-28; Phi 3:9 he hath: Rom 3:27, Rom 15:17; Eze 8:9; Jer 9:23, Jer 9:24; Co1 9:16; Co2 5:12, Co2 11:12, Co2 11:30; Co2 12:1-9; Gal 6:13, Gal 6:14; Eph 2:9 but: Gen 12:12, Gen 12:13, Gen 12:18, Gen 12:20, Gen 20:9-13; Jos 24:2; Co1 1:29, Co1 4:7; Gal 3:22 Romans 4:3”