Romans 4:1-12 - June 25, 2023

Intro:

Romans 4:1–8 NKJV

1 What then shall we say that Abraham our father has found according to the flesh? 2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. 3 For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” 4 Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt. 5 But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness, 6 just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works: 7 “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, And whose sins are covered; 8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord shall not impute sin.”

The MacArthur Bible Commentary B. The Example of Righteousness (4:1–25)

But faith is not a meritorious work. It is never the ground of justification—it is simply the channel through which it is received and it, too, is a gift.

The MacArthur Bible Commentary (B. The Example of Righteousness (4:1–25))

This word (ACCOUNTED) can also be translated “imputed” (vv. 6, 8, 11, 23, 24). Used in both financial and legal settings, this Greek word, which occurs nine times in chapter 4 alone, means to take something that belongs to someone and credit to another’s account. It is a one-sided transaction.

New Living Translation Chapter 4

9 Now, is this blessing only for the Jews, or is it also for uncircumcised Gentiles? Well, we have been saying that Abraham was counted as righteous by God because of his faith. 10 But how did this happen? Was he counted as righteous only after he was circumcised, or was it before he was circumcised? Clearly, God accepted Abraham before he was circumcised!

11 Circumcision was a sign that Abraham already had faith and that God had already accepted him and declared him to be righteous—even before he was circumcised. So Abraham is the spiritual father of those who have faith but have not been circumcised. They are counted as righteous because of their faith. 12 And Abraham is also the spiritual father of those who have been circumcised, but only if they have the same kind of faith Abraham had before he was circumcised.

Question 1: Was Abraham only made right w/ God before he was circumcised? - NO

Question 2: Circumcision was a sign that Abraham what? - Abrahams Faith

Question 3: How is anyone counted righteous? - Our Faith