Romans

4:1-22

1) Chapter 4 represents a lengthy illustration of the truth proclaimed in Chapter 3

2) The principal character of the illustration is Abraham .

3) Paul reminds us in verse 1 that he too is a Jew by saying “our forefather.”

4) In verse 2 Paul introduces a hypothetical. He puts the words if at the beginning.

5) This is called a “condition contrary to fact”.

6) Verse 3 starts with the question of our lives!

7) For Paul and should be us, the Scripture is the supreme authority.

or Paul and should be us, the Scripture is the supreme authority.

8) He answers the question by citing .

9) This verse is crucial to understanding the doctrine of justification by faith alone.

10) The verse that Paul cites says that Abraham believed God.

11) It doesn’t say that Abraham believed in God.

12) Paul is attempting to answer the question of comparing how OT people were justified and how NT people are justified.

13) They are justified the same way. By faith.

14) Did OT people go to heaven when they died?

15) They looked to a future redeemer. We NT people look back to a redeemer.

16) It is crucial in both testaments to believe the Word of God.

17) Then the second part of the verse even further pushes the point home that is because he believed.

18) One of the difference between Roman Catholics and Protestants is in this justification process.

19) Rome teaches that unless a person is sanctified he cannot be justified. Protestants teach a person cannot be sanctified unless he is first justified.

20) Paul states that Abraham’s belief was credited to him as righteousness.

21) Why is it important to know that it was credited to him? vs 4

22) Because credit is something unearned while wages for your work are earned.

23) Our justification is on the basis of faith. vs 5

24) He goes on to further quote David. vs 6

25) He says their sins are covered.

26) Which means they did not have the ability to atone for their sins themselves.

27) Blessed is the man who sins are forgiven and will never count against him. vs 7-8

28) Who does the forgiving and the counting? The Lord

29) Now that Paul has set up a precedent that justification is only by faith who is it for? vs 9

30) To get that answer we must go to vs 10 because it points us to the circumcision.

31) The circumcision was a sign of the justification that Abraham already possessed.

32) So Abraham is the father of all who believe both circumcised and not. (vs 11-12)

33) It was not through the law that Abraham was justified because there was no law. (vs 13)

34) If it is only through the law that we become heirs of the kingdom of God, faith becomes empty and useless and the promises of God have no effect. vs 14-15

35) Why? Because nobody can keep the law.

36) The law only brings wrath not grace. (vs 15)

37) The promises come by faith so that it may be grace. (vs 16)

38) Paul further takes the step to say only God can do these things. (vs 17)

39) In the book of Hosea, God said, “I will say to those called “not my people”, you are my people.”

40) Saving faith is not an empty faith, or a mere profession of faith but it is real trust. (vs 18)

41) How do we know which we have? It must be put to the test by works. (vs 19-22)

42) Abraham knew he and Sarah were old and that her womb was barren.

43) True Faith: is based on God’s promises, despite earthy evidence, results in acts of giving glory to God, and is credited to use as righteousness .