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Romans 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)
 
WORDS TO PONDER
 
impute - "to reckon, take into account, or, metaphorically, to put down
 to a person's account"
 
righteousness - as used in this chapter, the idea seems to be akin that
 of "justification", where one is declared "not guilty"
  (see Romans 4:5-8)
 
REVIEW QUESTIONS FOR THE CHAPTER
 
1) List the main points of this chapter
 - Justification Of Abraham As An Example (1-8)
 - Righteousness By Faith Available To All Believers (9-25)
 
2) How did Abraham attain righteousness? (3-5)
 - By believing in God to justify the ungodly (and not in his own
 works)
 
3) How does David describe the righteousness which is imputed to man?
 (6-8)
 - In the sense that man's sins are not counted against him 
 
4) How is Abraham the father of the uncircumcised who possess faith?
 (9-11)
 - By his being justified by faith prior to his circumcision
 
5) Based upon what was the promise made to Abraham? (13)
 - The righteousness of faith
 
6) How did Abraham demonstrate his faith? (19-21)
 - By fathering Isaac
 
7) For whose sake was the example of Abraham's faith written? (23-24)
 - Those who believe that God raised Jesus from the dead

－－《Executable Outlines》

The Steps of Abraham’s Faith (v.12)

Observe that it does not say—‘who walk in the steps of our father Abraham’, for sometimes he took false and wrong steps, but ’who walk in the steps of that Faith of our father Abraham’ see Heb. 13:7

1 Step number One—Leaving all for God Gen.12:5; Heb. 11:8

2 Step number two—Leaving all with God Gen. 13:9, 14

3 Step number tree—Finding all in God Gen. 15:1

4 Step number four—Yielding all to God gen. 22:16

Abraham

By Grace

Not by Works

I. The Example of Righteousness by Faith

1. Credit as Righteousness by Believing in God

2. Never Count Against Him

3. Blessed are the Righteous

II. Not by Observing the Law

1. Before Circumcision

2. A Seal of Faith

3. Become Heirs

III. The Faith of Abraham

1. The Object of Faith

2. The Principle of Faith

3. The Expansion of Faith