READING ROMANS, CHAPTER 4

 

Wednesday, May 3, 2023

 INTRODUCING ROMANS, CHAPTER 4 

So far, this letter has established that every single person is guilty of sin and does not deserve God's forgiveness. Whether we know God's law explicitly, or not, we still fail to obey. Only faith in Christ can rescue us from the penalty we deserve for that sin. Romans 4 explores the example of Abraham, and God's amazing gift of declaring Abraham righteous solely based on his faith. This declaration was given many years before Abraham was circumcised, causing Abraham to become the father of all those who believe in God by faith. Abraham's continued faith in God is a model for us. Romans will continue by exploring how Christ brings us peace with God. https://www.bibleref.com/Romans/4/Romans-chapter-4.html

1)Abraham Justified by Fath, Part 1, Verses 1-9, MAMA

What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, discovered in this matter? ² If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about—but not before God. ³ What does Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”⁴ Now to the one who works, wages are not credited as a gift but as an obligation. ⁵ However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness. ⁶ David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the one to whom God credits righteousness apart from works: ⁷ “Blessed are those whose transgressions are forgiven,     whose sins are covered. ⁸ Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord will never count against them.” ⁹ Is this blessedness only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? We have been saying that Abraham’s faith was credited to him as righteousness.

NOTATIONS:

• A new paradigm - Justificaction by faith as opposed to works
• Psalm 32:1-2 - The passage quoted which was spoken by David. 

SECTION QUESTIONS:

1. How was Abraham justified by God? (V.3)

2. What's the difference between work and faith? (V.4-5)

How does question 2 relate to “the law of works” and “the law of faith”?

2)Abraham Justified by Fath, Part 2, Verses 10-17, DESTINY

Under what circumstances was it credited? Was it after he was circumcised, or before? It was not after, but before! ¹¹ And he received circumcision as a sign, a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. So then, he is the father of all who believe but have not been circumcised, so that righteousness might be credited to them. 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. ¹³ It was not through the law that Abraham and his offspring received the promise that he would be heir of the world, but through the righteousness that comes by faith. ¹⁴ For if those who depend on the law are heirs, faith means nothing and the promise is worthless, ¹⁵ because the law brings wrath. And where there is no law there is no transgression. ¹⁶ Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring—not only to those who are of the law but also to those who have the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all. ¹⁷ As it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.”^[c] He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed—the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being things that were not.

NOTATIONS:

• Many Jewish people believed Abraham was righteous because he obeyed God by being circumcised. 
• Obedience comes after faith. 
• Abraham, a physical and spiritul father. 

SECTION QUESTIONS:

1. Is circumcision a necessity for justification? (V.10)

2. Why was Abraham called the father of all who believe, but were not circumcised? (V.11)

3. In what way were Abraham and his offspring made heirs of the world? (V.13)

4. If those depending on the law were made heirs, what does that make faith and the promise? (V.14)

Who are the true offspring of Abraham and the heirs of the promises of God (justification/eternal life)?

3) Abraham Justified by Fath, Part 3, Verses 18-25, JEANNIE

Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, “So shall your offspring be.”^[d] 19 Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah’s womb was also dead. ²⁰ Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, ²¹ being fully persuaded that God had the power to do what he had promised. ²² This is why “it was credited to him as righteousness.” ²³ The words “it was credited to him” were written not for him alone, ²⁴ but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness—for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. ²⁵ He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.

NOTATIONS:

• Abraham kept the faith, he kept believing in God's specific promise
• The same can happen for us!

SECTION QUESTIONS:

1. How did Abraham become the father of many nations? (V.18)

2. Why did Abraham not waiver in his belief even after he had grown old? (V.21)

3. Who were the words, "It was credited to him." written for? (V.23-24)

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Thought Question:

What definition or example comes to mind when you think about the term justification? 

Prayer Confession: 

Heavenly Father, thank you that like Abraham we have been justified by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, our God and our Savior. Thank you that we are accepted in Christ and have been declared righteous-not because of what we have done but because of trusting in what Christ did on the cross for us. May our lives become living testimonies to the truth of the glorious Gospel of Christ to everyone we meet, and may all we do, be done to the glory of God. Thank you, God for hearing our prayers, in Jesus' Holy name we pray, AMEN. (knowing Jesus-https.//prayer.knowing-Jesus.com>4)