Romans 4:1-12

Romans 4:1–12 ESV

1 What then shall we say was gained by Abraham, our forefather 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 counted to him as righteousness.” 4 Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. 5 And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness, 6 just as David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works: 7 “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; 8 blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin.” 9 Is this blessing then only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? For we say that faith was counted to Abraham as righteousness. 10 How then was it counted to him? Was it before or after he had been circumcised? It was not after, but before he was circumcised. 11 He received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. The purpose was to make him the father of all who believe without being circumcised, so that righteousness would be counted to them as well, 12 and to make him the father of the circumcised who are not merely circumcised but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.

It is NEVER for NOTHING

Romans 3:31 “31 Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law.”

Our WHOLE LIFE we were taught Do xyz in order to make the mark.

3— Genesis 15:6 “6 And he BELIEVED the Lord, and he counted it to him as RIGHTEOUSNESS”

13 years before being circumcised

4-5— GOD HAS NOT, AND WILL NOT, EVER OWE ANYONE ANYTHING

6-8— When we believe something happens...

Double Imputation-my sinfulness is exchanged for Christ’s righteousness

9-12— Who is the GIFT of SALVATION for?

Am I guilty of GATE-KEEPING the Gospel?

Acts 15 teaches us that there are NO PREREQUISITES to receiving the Good News of Christ

The sign was given as a result of the faith Abraham had.

Today we use baptism as that sign

When we accept Christ we are then COMPELLED to walk and LIVE as He did.

Romans 10:14–15 “14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!””

John 14:6 ESV

6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Romans 3:23 ESV

23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Romans 6:23 ESV

23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 10:9 ESV

9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.