Romans 4:23-24

Romans 4:23-24

[23] Now  not  written  for his sake  alone,  that  it was imputed  to him;  [24] But  for  also,  to whom  it shall be  imputed,  if we believe  on  him that raised up  Jesus  Lord  from  the dead; 

What does Romans 4:23-24 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

Paul applied God"s dealings with Abraham to his readers in this pericope"s final verses. God will credit His righteousness to all who believe Him. As in Romans 4:3, the content of faith is not specific ( Romans 4:24). The more important point is that we trust God as Abraham did. Our confidence must be in Him.
Paul was not saying here that we need to believe that God raised Jesus from the dead. That is important, as he says elsewhere ( 1 Corinthians 15), not as a condition for salvation but because it is a fact of history. The resurrection was not part of the saving work of Christ but was the consequence of it. Having paid the debt of man"s sin, death had no claim on Him because He had not sinned Himself (cf. Romans 6:23).
Paul intended his mention of God raising Jesus here to help the reader remember that He is the same God who brings life out of death as the God whom Abraham believed. It may be easier for us to believe than it was for Abraham because we look back on a resurrection completed whereas Abraham looked forward to one anticipated.