Right in God s Sight Paul s Letter to the Romans Romans 4:1-25 Inductive Discovery Lesson 5 Sometimes the truth is hiding in plain sight. We miss it because we think it has to be more complicated. Sometimes the truth gets buried in tradition; opinions passed down for so long they are accepted without question and defended to the death. No one knew this better than Paul, a reformed Pharisee! Paul just finished stating that a person can only be justified by faith, not by works. This was not some new idea as though God had suddenly changed His mind. But Paul knows his Jewish readers still need convincing. So Paul continues his conversation about faith by pointing all the way back to Abraham who put his faith in God s promise. He asks some simple questions. Did Abraham earn God s favor by keeping the Law? Think about it, Paul says. Abraham lived long before the Law was given, so it wasn t the keeping of rules and regulations that made him right in God s sight. When did God credit Abraham for being a righteous man? Think about it, Paul says. Since he was not yet circumcised, Abraham was still technically a Gentile when his faith was accounted as righteousness. So it follows that everyone who believes, whether Jew or Gentile, is made right in God s sight. Was it realistic to think Abraham would become a father so late in life? Think about it, Paul says. Against all reasonable hope, Abraham believed God would make him a father of many nations, just as He promised. Paul wraps up his discussion about Abraham by simply pointing out the obvious. Who can earn God s forgiveness or favor? No one! Who can be made right in God s sight? The one who accepts God s gift of grace, offered through Jesus Christ to all who believe. Romans 4:1-25 Read the passage without interruption. If possible, read it again from a different translation. Briefly describe in your own words what Paul is saying. 1
Working Text for Romans 4:1-25 New International Version (NIV) Note: When Paul directly quotes or alludes to Old Testament scripture, it is printed all in caps. You will find references for these scriptures in the side column. 1 What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather, discovered in this matter? 2 If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about but not before God. 3 What does the Scripture say? ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD AND IT WAS CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS. 4 Now when a man works, his wages are not Genesis 15:6 credited to him as a gift, but as an obligation. 5 However, to the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness. 6 David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works: 7 BLESSED ARE THEY WHOSE Psalm 32:1-2 TRANSGRESSIONS ARE FORGIVEN, WHOSE SINS ARE COVERED. 8 BLESSED IS THE MAN WHOSE SIN THE LORD WILL NEVER COUNT AGAINST HIM. 9 Is this blessedness only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? We have been saying that Abraham s faith was credited to him as righteousness. 10 Under what circumstances was it credited? Was it after he was circumcised, or before? It was not after, but before! 11 And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. So then, he is the father of all who believe but have not been circumcised, in order that righteousness might be credited to them. 12 And he is also the father of the circumcised who not only are circumcised but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised. 2
13 It was not through law that Abraham and his offspring received the promise that he would be heir of the world, but through the righteousness that comes by faith. 14 For if those who live by law are heirs, faith has no value and the promise is worthless, 15 because law brings wrath. And where there is no law there is no transgression. 16 Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham s offspring not only to those who are of the law but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all. 17 As it is written: I Genesis 17:5 HAVE MADE YOU A FATHER OF MANY NATIONS. He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed the God who gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they were. 18 Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, SO SHALL YOUR OFFSPRING BE. Genesis 15:5 19 Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead since he was about a hundred years old and that Sarah s womb was also dead. 20 Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, 21 being fully persuaded that God had power to do what He had promised. 22 This is why IT WAS CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS. Genesis 15:6 23 The words it was credited to him were written not for him alone, 24 but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness for us who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. 25 He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification. Scripture taken from the New International Version, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing. All rights reserved. 3
Write down your OBSERVATIONS Read the section and record what you see. Use the first column to keep track of what you find in the Bible passage. (Who? What? When? Where?) Circle repeated words and phrases. Use the second column to record information you gather from other sources such as a dictionary, concordance, maps, etc. You can also use this section to jot down your thoughts, impressions or questions that come to mind. Do your best to follow Paul s train of thought. Does he emphasize a particular topic? Are his words urgent? Encouraging? Commanding? What issues or problems does he address? What questions does he ask? Romans 4:1-8 Facts from the passage: My Research and Personal Observations: Romans 4:9-15 Facts from the passage: My Research and Personal Observations: (continued on next page) 4
Romans 4:9-15 Facts from the passage: My Research and Personal Observations: Romans 4:16-25 Facts from the passage: My Research and Personal Observations: 5
Key Words and Phrases Key words and phrases help us understand the main point the writer wants to make. How do we recognize key words and phrases? Here are some simple things to look for. When you see a word or phrase repeated, you can be sure Paul is using it to make his point. In Romans, Paul frequently quotes Old Testament scripture to support his point. You may find some key words there. If you are unfamiliar with a word or its meaning, it becomes a key word for you. Take time to learn the definition so you will understand how it is being used in the sentence. List any key words and phrases you found in Romans 4:1-25. Write the definition of the following words or phrases. Use a regular dictionary or a concordance with a Greek Dictionary if you have one. faith (vs.5, 9, 11-16, 19-20) waver (vs.20) 6
INTERPRETATION What does it mean? Look for a spiritual lesson. Be careful not to read into the Bible an idea that is not there. Examine each verse in light of the verses around it. To help you find a spiritual lesson, ask questions such as, Is there a command to obey? A promise to claim? A condition to that promise? Is there a warning to heed? An example to follow or avoid? State the lesson in one simple sentence. APPLICATION How does it apply to me? We don t study the Bible just to gather information we want to spiritually grow. Our heart needs to be open to change. The only way to move truth off the pages of your Bible and into your life is to put it into action. To apply a spiritual lesson, we must examine ourselves and take deliberate steps to do something with what we have learned. Ask yourself: Is this a new insight for me, or does it reinforce what I already know? What does it challenge me to do? Does it point out error in my attitude or actions? What changes does it require? Think of how the lesson relates to you and what specific course of action you will take. Write your application in the form of a question to make it personal. Romans 4:1-8 Lesson: Application:? Romans 4:9-15 Lesson: Application:? Romans 4:16-25 Lesson: Application:? Summary Write a simple sentence that summarizes what the passage is about. Give a title to the chapter that will help you personally to remember it. 7
Take a Closer Look Memorize God s Word He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. Romans 4:20-21 NKJV Choose the translation you prefer to memorize from and re-write the verse here. Meditate on God s Word Look up. What does this verse teach you about God? (For example, look for signs of His character, His attributes, His works, His promises.) Look around. What does this verse teach you about the world and people in general? Look within. What does this verse teach you about yourself? Look ahead. Does this verse give you reason to hope? Briefly share your thoughts. Look alive! Given the opportunity, how would you express the truth found in this verse to someone who needs to hear it? 8
Make God s Word Your Prayer As you memorize and meditate on this verse, pray it back to the Lord. Let the Holy Spirit examine your heart, increase your understanding, and help you to pray. Ask Him for faith and strength to act on the truth of God s Word. This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him. 1 John 5:14-15 NASB God s Word Bearing Fruit For you personally, what has been the most important lesson from your study this week? How will you put what God has shown you into practice? Something to Think About... Abraham weighed the human possibility (of becoming a father) against the divine impossibility (of God being able to break His word) and decided that if God was God, then nothing was impossible. He exercised faith in God s promise but also in God s power. Thus the principle of faith is explained to us. It is simply taking God at His word and allowing God to be God in any and every situation. 1 - John Phillips - 1 John Phillips, Exploring Romans 1991 Loizeaux Brothers, Inc., p. 85 9
Message Notes: 2007 Leah Case, All Rights Reserved 10