Romans 4 Adult Bible Study

 

In chapter 3, Paul showed us we can’t earn our salvation by obeying the commands of God. Rather, we are accepted as righteous by our faith in God’s sacrifice of Jesus. Now, Paul is going to give us an example of what faith looks like from the beginning of Israel’s history.

 

Why is it important for Paul’s readers to go all the way back to Abraham?

 

Abraham was the founder of the Jewish nation. If Paul can show his Jewish readers that Abraham was counted as righteous rather than by his obedience to certain commands, it will go a long way toward convincing his Jewish readers that faith is more important than obeying the Law.

 

 

The next person Paul cites is King David. Besides being another of the great figures in Israel’s history, what do we know about David’s “transgressions”? Could he have been counted righteous for his obedience?

 

David committed two notable sins: he slept with a married woman and had her husband killed, and he took a census of the Israelite army out of pride.

 

He knows what it means to have his transgressions forgiven and his sins covered. Paul is showing the grace that comes when we have faith. Even if we don’t measure up to God’s holy standards, He forgives us if we repent and have faith in Him. He even “justifies the ungodly”! (verse 5)

 

 

How would Paul’s Gentile readers, including most of us, react to this message of gaining righteousness by following Abraham’s faith rather than the later Law?

 

At this time in Christianity, many Jewish believers were pressuring the Gentiles to follow the Jewish Law and customs in order to be Christian. It must have been a relief to the Gentiles knowing they can still tie their faith to the patriarch of their Savior’s family without having to obey all the rites and commands of the Old Testament.

 

We are still continuing on in and are part of the historic faith that preceded the Law.

 

 

In verse 11, Paul says Abraham received circumcision as a sign and seal of righteousness. It was a confirmation of his faith. How does God confirm our faith and the righteousness He has given us?

 

2 Corinthians 1:21-22 - And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.

 

Ephesians 1:13 - In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit…

 

1 John 3:24 - Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us.

 

God wouldn’t have told Abraham to be circumcised if Abraham didn’t have faith in God’s promises. And He wouldn’t give us His Holy Spirit if we didn’t have faith in the sacrifice of Jesus. If you have the Holy Spirit, you can be sure God approves of your faith and counts you as righteous.

 

 

In verse 17, Paul describes God by saying He is “the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being things that were not.” Paul relates this Abraham’s body and son. Abraham’s body gave life to a son who was not even though it would have been impossible for such an old man to father a child.

 

But how can we relate to this spiritually?

 

We are as good as dead spiritually without Christ. We would be on our way to death and Hell. But when we place our faith in God, He gives new life to our spirits and calls us His children – we who had no relation to Him before!  

 

What to DO after reading this passage

Verse 18 says “Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed…” Spend a moment thinking about the promises God has made to you. Do they seem impossible? Against all hope? Ask God to strengthen your faith and to count your faith as righteousness.