An Expose on Righteousness – Part II
Lakewood / Speaker: Pastor Jonathan / 9-6- 2012
Text: Romans Chapter 4
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 involves justification (i.e.,forgiveness)
3. To comprehend the nature of justifying faith by considering the example of Abraham
I. Let’s summarize our study for tonight and see if we have time to dig in deeper.
A. 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.
1. 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).
2. 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).
B. To demonstrate further that God's righteousness by faith is offered to both Jew and Gentile, Paul again appeals to the example of Abraham.
1. 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.
a. Thus Abraham serves as a father of all who believe, whether circumcised or not (9-12).
C. 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).
D. 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 – Digging Deeper
II. 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)
III. 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)
Conclusion: II Corinthians 5:21 “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” We must beware of any idea that on the cross of Calvary the Lord Jesus Christ actually became sinful in Himself. Such an idea is false. Our sins were placed on Him, but they were not in Him. What happened is that God made Him to be a sin-offering on our behalf. Trusting in Him, we are reckoned righteous by God. The claims of the law have been fully satisfied by our
Substitute.
