"THE EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS"
Chapter Four
OBJECTIVES IN STUDYING THIS CHAPTER
1) To understand how Abraham was justified in God's sight
2) To see that the "righteousness" God imputes to man is actually
justification (i.e., forgiveness)
3) To comprehend the nature of justifying faith by considering the
example of Abraham
SUMMARY
Now that he has declared that God's righteousness is to be found in a
system involving justification by faith and not by keeping the works of
any law, Paul proceeds to provide evidence by referring to Abraham's
example. In considering the justification of Abraham, Paul quotes
Genesis 15:6 where it is stated that Abraham's faith was accounted to
him for righteousness (1-3). Abraham trusted in God, not in his own
works, and through such faith experienced the righteousness
(forgiveness) expressed by David in Psalms 31:1,2 (4-8).
To demonstrate further that God's righteousness by faith is offered to
both Jew and Gentile, Paul again appeals to the example of Abraham. He
reminds them that Abraham's faith was accounted for righteousness prior
to receiving circumcision, which was in itself a seal of the
righteousness of the faith he had while uncircumcised. Thus Abraham
serves as a father of all who believe, whether circumcised or not
(9-12).
Paul then reminds them that the promise that Abraham was to be "a
father of many nations" was given in light of his faith, not through
some law, so that the promise might be according to grace and sure to
those who have the same kind of faith as Abraham (13-17).
Finally, the nature of Abraham's obedient faith is illustrated (18-22),
with the explanation it was preserved to reassure us that we who have
the same kind faith in God who raised Jesus will find our faith
accounted for righteousness in the same way (23-25).
OUTLINE
I. JUSTIFICATION OF ABRAHAM AS AN EXAMPLE (1-8)
A. HOW ABRAHAM WAS JUSTIFIED (1-5)
1. If by works, then he could boast (1-2)
2. The Scriptures reveal it was by his faith in God (3)
a. One who trusts in works, seeks God's debt, not His grace
(4)
b. But when one trusts in God to justify him, such faith is
counted for righteousness (5)
B. THE TESTIMONY OF DAVID (6-8)
1. Even David spoke of God imputing righteousness apart from
works (6)
2. Blessed are those against whom God does not impute sins (7-8)
II. RIGHTEOUSNESS BY FAITH AVAILABLE TO ALL BELIEVERS (9-25)
A. BECAUSE ABRAHAM WAS JUSTIFIED BEFORE CIRCUMCISION (9-12)
1. His faith was counted for righteousness before he was
circumcised (9-10)
2. Circumcision was a seal of the righteousness he had while
uncircumcised (11a)
3. Thus he became the father of all who have the same kind of
faith, both circumcised and uncircumcised (11b-12)
B. BECAUSE THE PROMISE TO ABRAHAM WAS GRANTED THROUGH FAITH (13-25)
1. The promise to be the heir of the world given in view of his
faith (13)
2. It was not given through law (14-15)
3. But in light of faith, according to grace, to assure that all
who are of the same faith as Abraham might be heirs of the
promise (16-17)
4. The kind of obedient faith illustrated by Abraham (18-22)
5. Abraham's justification by faith assures that we who believe
in Him who raised Jesus from the dead shall find justification
(23-25)
WORDS TO PONDER
impute - "to reckon, take into account, or, metaphorically, to put down
to a person's account"
righteousness - as used in this chapter, the idea seems to be akin that
of "justification", where one is declared "not guilty"
(see Romans 4:5-8)
REVIEW QUESTIONS FOR THE CHAPTER
1) List the main points of this chapter
- Justification Of Abraham As An Example (1-8)
- Righteousness By Faith Available To All Believers (9-25)
2) How did Abraham attain righteousness? (3-5)
- By believing in God to justify the ungodly (and not in his own
works)
3) How does David describe the righteousness which is imputed to man?
(6-8)
- In the sense that man's sins are not counted against him
4) How is Abraham the father of the uncircumcised who possess faith?
(9-11)
- By his being justified by faith prior to his circumcision
5) Based upon what was the promise made to Abraham? (13)
- The righteousness of faith
6) How did Abraham demonstrate his faith? (19-21)
- By fathering Isaac
7) For whose sake was the example of Abraham's faith written? (23-24)
- Those who believe that God raised Jesus from the dead
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