ACTS study in Romans Chapter 4

Audio 

DOCTRINAL 2:12 - 5-11

1:16-5:11 Sins, Old Nature, Results

5:12-8:39 Sins, Old Nature, Itself

 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)