Romans 4 & 5

Justification by Faith

I. God promised Abraham that he would become a great nation and an instrument of blessing to all nations (). However, Abraham didn’t have the essential components for nationhood—land and descendants. God called Abraham to the land of Canaan and promised him a son through his barren wife, Sarah (). Although neither promise seemed possible, Abraham believed God. For this reason, Paul regards Abraham’s faith as exemplary for all believers (; compare , ).

Verse 3- 12 The Greek word used here, edikaiōthē, can be translated “was justified” or “was declared righteous”; it refers to being put in right relation with someone else. Some Jewish contemporaries of Paul may have argued that Abraham was justified by works and reasoned that both Jews and Gentiles must be justified in the same way. Paul disproves their argument with a quotation from

Vrs 5 In this context, “ungodly” also includes Abraham , who was similar to the Gentiles in that he was uncircumcised and not under the law when God called him

Vrs 6 David Considered Israel’s greatest king. Paul mentions David to counter the possible objection that God’s provision of righteousness for Abraham was an exception.

Heir of the World

I. God had promised that Abraham and his descendants would inherit the land of Canaan and be an instrument of blessing for all the nations of the earth

Vrs 16 promise In the same way that God offered Abraham the gift of land through faith, He now offers the gift of righteousness through faith to all people. This means that both Jews and Gentiles should have the same response to God’s promise of righteousness apart from the law

Vrs17 plural of the Greek word used here, ethnos (“nation”), also (at times) refers to Gentiles in general. Paul uses this different meaning to assert that Abraham is father not only of Jews but also of Gentiles

Vrs 24 The resurrection is evidence of God’s power and presence. In the same way that God supplied procreative power to Abraham and Sarah, He now supplies living power through Jesus Christ

Chapter 5 Salvation

I. Paul turns from his discussion of justification by faith to address the reconciliation with God that results from such justification

Vrs 1 Paul has argued extensively that salvation comes only through faith. He assumes that conclusion here, using it as the starting point to expound on the implications of being declared righteous by God.

“To that same faith which first gave us ‘peace with God’ we owe our introduction into that permanent standing in the favor of God which the justified enjoy.” As it is difficult to distinguish this from the peace first mentioned, we regard it as merely an additional phase of the same [MEYER, PHILIPPI, MEHRING], rather than something new [BEZA, THOLUCK, HODGE

Vrs 3-4 Patience is the quiet endurance of what we cannot but wish removed, whether it be the withholding of promised good, or the continued experience of positive ill.

Vrs 8 Christ died for us The proof and revelation of God’s love for His people. Paul occasionally personalizes Christ’s death

Condemned in Adam Justified in Christ

I. Paul describes what is true on a small scale to establish truth on a larger scale. This rhetorical device is called an argument a minori ad maius (Latin for “from the lesser to the greater”) or qal wa-chomer (Hebrew for “light to heavy”).

Vrs 13 until the law Paul states that the law did not introduce sin into the world; rather, it identified the sin that Adam had introduced

Vrs 15 the gift Refers to the work of Christ—His sacrificial death, which puts believers in right relationship with God.

Vrs 18-21 Adam and Christ are compared All human beings bear the effect of Adam’s sin. All are condemned to die and fall short of God’s righteousness. Although Christ’s obedience has implications for the justification of all people, it does not result in justification apart from their acceptance of the free gift

Barry, J. D., Mangum, D., Brown, D. R., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Ritzema, E., … Bomar, D. (2012, 2016). Faithlife Study Bible (). Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.