March 1, 2013

Romans - Lesson 4


Text1


2. Righteousness reckoned: justification 4:1-25

a. Abraham’s history shows righteousness is reckoned through faith 4:1-8

1.) The Evidence 1-3
Chapter 4
1 What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, has found? 2
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? "And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness." 3

2.) The Explanation 4-8
a.) What of Works? 4

4 Now to the one who works, his wage is not reckoned as a favor, but as what is due.

b.) What of faith? 5-8

5 But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith4 is reckoned as righteousness,
6 just as David also speaks of the blessing upon the man to whom God reckons5 righteousness apart from works: 6
7 "Blessed are those whose lawless deeds have been forgiven,
And whose sins have been covered.7
8 "Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will not take into account."

b. An explanation of who is justified 4:9-12

1.) The one who is justified, is justified by faith, not by circumcision 9-10

9 Is this blessing then upon the circumcised, or upon the uncircumcised also? For we say, "Faith was reckoned to Abraham as righteousness."
10 How then was it reckoned? While he was circumcised, or uncircumcised? Not while circumcised, but while uncircumcised;

2.) Why was Abraham reckoned righteous in uncircumcision? 11-12

11 and he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while uncircumcised, that he might be the father of all who believe without being circumcised, that righteousness might be reckoned to them,
12 and the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also follow8 in the steps of the faith of our father Abraham which he had while uncircumcised.

c. Answer to why we are justified 4:13-17a

1.) Law can not inherit the world 13

13 For the promise to Abraham or to his descendants that he would be heir of the world was not through the Law, but through the righteousness of faith. 9

2.) Law works wrath 14-15

14 For if those who are of the Law are heirs, faith is made void and the promise is nullified;
15 for the Law brings about wrath,10 but where there is no law, neither is there violation.11

3.) righteousness- by faith through grace 16

16 For this reason it is by faith, that it might be in accordance with grace, in order that the promise may be certain to all the descendants, not only to those who are of the Law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all,

d. When we are justified 17b-25

1.) Abraham believed in God 17b

17 (as it is written, "A father of many nations have I made you") in the sight of Him whom he believed, even God, who gives life to the dead and calls into being that which does not exist. 12

2.) Abraham believed in the unseen 18

18 In hope against hope he believed, in order that he might become a father of many nations, according to that which had been spoken, "So shall your descendants be."

3.) The consideration of faith: The ability of God 19-20

19 And without becoming weak in faith he contemplated his own body, now as good as dead since he was about a hundred years old, and the deadness of Sarah's womb;
  1. yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief, but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God,

4.) The assurance of faith 21

5.) The persuasion of faith 21b

21 and being fully assured that what He had promised, He was able also to perform. 13

6.) The effect of faith:
reckoned righteousness 22-24

22 Therefore also it was reckoned to him as righteousness.
23 Now not for his sake only was it written, that it was reckoned to him,
24 but for our sake also, to whom it will be reckoned, as those who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead,

7.) The goal of faith – Jesus who was raised from the dead 24b-25

  1. He who was delivered up because of our transgressions14, and was raised because of our justification15.

Thought questions for chapter 4

  1. What is the most hopeless situation you can recall ever being in?
The first month of our marriage.
  1. If you only had Abraham’s example in this chapter to go by, how would you define the word “faith”?
Faith is accepting the reality of God’s promises in spite of outward appearances.
g. How was Abraham able to grow strong in the faith? Vs. 20-21
He realized God could do what HE promised to do.
  1. How is the power of the Gospel (1:16) reflected in this chapter?
The power of God is the ability of God to bring about His promises.
  1. How are Christians today either like or unlike Abraham?
We are like Abraham in that we believe without seeing, but unlike him in that we rarely are put to the test as he was (with Issac)
  1. What are the most important things to consider in this chapter in light of Phil 4:8?
Faith Trust (in God) Hope Jesus’ attoning work

For Further Thought


How does Abraham demonstrate his faith? See Gen 15, 17, 18
By believing that God would bless him not just with land, but also with offspring. This confidence (faith) is exhibited in chapter 18, where Abraham "“bargains” with God.


How would you compare the personality of Abraham to Paul?

Abraham was a weaker person than Paul, for he had moments of weakness where he represented his wife as his “sister”. Paul, once convinced of something, became utterly relentless in the outworking of that conviction. Both Abraham and Paul showed great faith, however.


How does Abraham demonstrate his faith? See Gen 15, 17, 18
By believing that God would bless him not just with land, but also with offspring. This confidence (faith) is exhibited in chapter 18, where Abraham "“bargains” with God.


What are the main points of the chapter and how do they fit into the overall plan of the book?

Vss 3-9 Reckoned as righteousness vs. 10 Reckoned while uncircumcised vs. 16 righteousness of faith to all. These three establish righteousness’: method, time, and extent.


From God’s perspective, what is the relationship between righteousness and faith as concerns human beings?

Righteousness in human beings does not exist without faith.



Compare James 2:14-16 with Romans chapter 4. Do they compliment or conflict?

Compliment. Abraham offered up Issac; this was an exhibition of his faith.




In what sense are our sins the reason for Christ’s death, and our justification the purpose of his resurrection? See Isa 53:4-6; 8b, 11; 1 Pet 2:24; 1Cor 15:17

Christ is our sin-bearer. Because God raised Jesus, He will raise us (Rom 6:1-6).


By way of illustration


Corrie ten Boom, in her book Tramp for the Lord had these words to say regarding forgiveness:
It was 1947--. I had come from Holland to defeated Germany with the message that God forgives. It was the truth they needed most to hear in that bitter, bombed-out land, and I gave them my favorite mental picture. Maybe because the sea is never far from a Hollander's mind, I like to think that that's where forgiven sins are thrown. "When we confess our sins," I said, "God casts them into the deepest ocean, gone forever--. Then God places a sign out there that says No Fishing Allowed!" --James S. Hewett, Illustrations Unlimited (Wheaton: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc, 1988) p. 217.

Faith in Christ is more than mere intellectual assent. It is believing with the heart, with the will, with adoration and with action. Years ago a party of visitors at the national mint were told by a workman in the smelting works that if you first dipped your hand in water, a ladle of molten metal might be poured over the palm of the hand without burning it. A husband and wife were part of this party of visitors. "Perhaps you would like to try it," the workman said to the husband. The husband drew back sharply, "No thanks," he said, "I'll take your word for it." The workman turned to the wife, "Perhaps you would like to try it." She replied, "Certainly." She pulled up the sleeve of her blouse and thrust her hand into a bucket of water. Calmly she held her hand out while the metal was poured over it. In nature of Jesus' parable, we might ask which of the two really believed the workman? The husband believed at one level -- but he wasn't willing to put his belief to the acid test. The wife, on the other hand, was willing to take the kind of risk faith in Christ demands.

One Sunday, a minister began his sermon: "I'd like to make three points today. First, there are millions of people around the world who are going to hell. Second, most of us sitting here today do not give a damn about it." After a lengthy pause he continued: "My third point is that you are more concerned that I, your pastor, said the word 'damn' than you are about the millions of people going to hell." Having undivided attention, he proceeded to preach an excellent sermon on putting faith into action.

Faith is the key that opens the door to heaven. You know, you could have a key ring with a lot of keys on it, like this (use actual key ring as object lesson if you have one); they will look somewhat alike. But I'll tell you this. If you go to the front door of my house, you could try all of these keys except the right one, and they would not open that door. The right key to heaven is called faith, saving faith. That is what will open the door to heaven. There is nothing else in the world that will open that door. What is it? FAITH.

  • D. James Kennedy

1 Chapter titles…??
The Hopelessness of sin
Hope in the promises of God

2 PP
Isa 51:2; Matt 3:9; Jn 8:33ff; 2 Cor 11:22


3 PP
Gen 15:6; Gal 3:6; Heb 11:8; Jas 2:23


4 Means confident TRUST

5 Means gives a credit to.

6 PP
Jer 23:6; 1 Cor 1:30; 2 Cor 5:19

7 See Psa 32:1

8 In rank – a military term

9 pp
Gen 17:4f; 28:14; Gal 3:29

10 Settled anger

11 pp.
Rom 3:20; 5:13; 5:20; 7:8; 7:10; 7:11; 1Cor 15:56; 2 Cor 3:7, 9; Gal 3:9f.; 1 Jn 3:4

12 Pp
Rom 8:11; Eph 2:15


13 Pp
Psa 115:3; Lk 1:37, 45; Heb 11:19

14 To fall to one’s side

15 To acquit, to declare righteous—a legal term that is used in a trial.
pp
Isa 53:5,6; rom 3:25; 8:32; 2Cor 5:21; Gal 1:14; Heb 9:28; 1 Pet 2:24; 1 Pet 3:18

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