Romans 4

Romans 4:1-12 – Abraham’s Faith Justified

Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness.  When a man works, he is given wages.  This is not a gift, but an obligation.  To a man who doesn’t work but trusts God, his faith is credited as righteousness.  David said the same thing in Ps. 32:1-2 when he said a man is blessed apart from works.   Even though Abraham was circumcised, he was credited as righteous before he was circumcised.  He is the father of all who believe but have not been circumcised.  He is also the father of the circumcised and those who walk in the footsteps of the faith. (Rom. 4:1-12).

Paul wanted to prove his message about faith so he started by explaining faith in the Old Testament.  He used Abraham and David as examples.  He wanted to show that to become righteousness is not by our works, but by our faith.

Abraham was called a friend of God in Is. 41:8 and in Is. 51:1-2 he was called a righteous man.  He could have bragged about it others, but he couldn’t brag to God.  God accepted him because he believed God not because of his good works.  He believed God’s promise of a son and that he would have many descendants and had faith it would happen.  Paul quotes David in verses 7-8 as saying we are blessed when we know God has forgiven our sins and credits us righteous apart from any works.

Jews believed a man needed circumcision.  In Genesis God commanded that every Jewish male child be circumcised as part of a covenant with God.  This was an outward sign and a permanent reminder to Israel that they needed to obey God’s laws.  Circumcision is practiced today although it is not necessary for any religious reasons.  God is more interested in spiritual circumcision.  Physical circumcision can however prevent disease and so does spiritual circumcision.  Spiritual circumcision prevents sin disease that starts in the heart.  It is putting off immorality, evil desires, anger, lying, etc.  Today God requires obedience just as He did during the Old Testament times.

A person who thinks he qualifies for heaven because of his religion or good works is wrong thinking.  We are justified by faith and not by our works.  This applies to all people.  Abraham was justified before he was circumcised.  So there is no basis or rule that one must be circumcised.  God can justify anyone who believes in Jesus Christ, even the uncircumcised.  This is the truth is the foundation for your Christian life.  Good works does not save you.  Religion does not save you.  Only faith in Jesus Christ can save you.

What are you trying to do to assure your place in heaven?

Does God see you as righteous?

“However, to the man who does not work but trust God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness.” – Rom. 4:5.  Does this mean we don’t have to do any works?  No, it means your works don’t save you.  He is talking about the Jews and those who thought good works would save them.   We are under grace and under grace you don’t have to do anything to be justified and righteous.  God recognizes Jesus’ death as payment in full for all our sins.  We are all sinners so God justifies the ungodly – that’s all of us.

If you see yourself as a good person and deserving salvation, you can’t be justified.  If you see yourself as a sinner and deserving of God’s judgment, then you can be justified.  God justifies the ungodly.  We need to recognize ourselves as sinners and in need of Jesus.  We need to acknowledge that the wages of your sin is death and sin eternally separates us from God, trust in God’s promises and that Jesus died for you, and accept Him in faith.  If he justifies the ungodly, there’s hope for you.  The best news ever is we don’t have to work for our salvation.  Salvation comes to those who believe in Jesus Christ.                                                     

Are you depending on your baptism, your church attendance, or how much money you give to the church to save you?

What outside signs are you depending on?

Principle:  God justifies us by our faith alone, not by our works.

If God has forgiven me of my sins and has justified me through the blood of Jesus, why do I sometimes feel guilty of my past?  It is a lack of faith.  We let Satan into our thinking to make us feel guilty.  It seems too easy for God just to say we are forgiven.  That is lack of faith.  God tells us if we confess and repent, He will forgive any sins and remember them no more and God doesn’t lie.  SO – believe it and move on!

What sin are you looking back on that makes you feel guilty?

Have you confess it to God?

Romans 4:13-25 – Abraham’s Faith Rests in God’s Promise

It was not through the law that Abraham and his offspring received the promised to be the heir of the world, but through righteousness that comes by faith.  Abraham is the father of many nations.  He is the father of us all.  He is our father in the sight of God in whom he believed – the God who gives life to the dead.  Abraham was about 100 years old and his body was as good as dead.  His wife Sarah’s womb was dead also, but in hope he believed and so became the father of nations.  He didn’t waver in unbelief in God’s promise, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God being fully persuaded that God had the power to do what He had promised.  This is why it was credited to him as righteous.  This is written to us also who believe in Him who raised Jesus from the dead.  He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification. (Rom. 4:13-25)

In Genesis 12-23 God promised He would make Abraham into a great nation.  He promised to bless those who blessed him and curse those who cursed him and that all people would be blessed through him.  God promised to give the land of Canaan to him and his descendents.  God promised that Abraham’s wife would have a son and she would be the mother of nations and kings.

God had promised Abraham and Sarah a child, but they were now old and it hadn’t happened.  Abraham didn’t give up.  He had faith and believed God even though it was humanly impossible and very unlikely at this point in his life.  At times our faith cannot be without struggles, just as it was for Abraham.  As we look back on history we see God kept His promise to Abraham and gave him many descendants. 

To believe in God’s promise is the same as believing in God.  If someone promises to do something and you don’t believe him, then it’s the same as calling him a liar.  If you don’t believe God, you are calling Him a liar.  God does not lie and Abraham knew it.

Do you believe God’s promises?

Do you believe in His written Word?   

Abraham grew in his faith and gave glory to God.  This teaches us that our faith should be growing.  Your faith may be weak, but it is still faith.  Faith is a gift from God, but we have the responsibility to grow it.  We can grow it by studying God’s Word and learning His attributes and His ways.  Put your faith into action and as we do that our faith is strengthened to trust Him more and more.

How is your faith like Abraham’s?

What has your faith taught you?

Is your faith growing?

Abraham believed God’s promise in spite of his seemly impossible circumstances.  Maybe you look at your own heart and realize how sinful you are and think it is impossible for God to save you.  Maybe you say God can never forgive all that I’ve done.  God can forgive any sin and He will if you confess and repent.  We must believe God and that Jesus died as the substitute for all sinners – even you.  We are saved by grace alone through faith in Him alone.

Have you personally applied the lesson of Abraham’s faith so righteousness can be credited to you?

Principle:  God separates the sin from the sinner by placing it on Jesus.

Next time we will study Romans 5.  Have a blessed day and thanks for visiting my site.  Hope to see you here again.  --  I encourage you to trust in Jesus.

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