Romans 4:1-5:11 Justified by God

Romans 4:1-8  Abraham & David’s righteousness was reckoned to them on the basis of being credited with righteousness, not because of works.  Their righteousness was a gift credited to them. 

Abraham was given this gift of the credit of righteousness before he was circumcised.  He received the sign of circumcision after this.  Therefore, the Gentiles are welcome to be given righteousness at any time God chooses.

Abraham therefore is the father of all who believe, but have not been circumcised, so that righteousness might be credited to them. 

The correspondence between Abraham’s faith and ours:

a) The promise to Abraham  (Gen 15:5-6) & to us (v20-24)  - Abraham was fully persuaded that God had power to do what He promised.  Therefore, he was credited with righteousness.

b) The inability of Abraham (v18-19) & our own (3:20) – we have fallen short of God’s glory and are unable to change this ourselves.

c) The God in whom Abraham believed (v17) & in whom we believe (v24) – is the God who gives life to the dead & calls those things that are not as though they were, and also the God who raised Jesus from the dead.

d) The result to Abraham (v18) & to us (5:1-2)  - He became a father of many nations, whilst we have peace with God, through Jesus, and have access by faith to this grace in which we stand, and we now rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.

4:25 

Our sins are the reason for Christ’s death because that was why He was delivered over to death.  Our justification is the purpose of His resurrection – He was raised so we could be justified. 

5:1-2,9-11  Justification’s blessings

Peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ

Access by faith into this grace in which we now stand
Rejoice in the hope of the glory of God

Rejoice in our sufferings b/c we know they produce perseverance, character, hope – God’s love poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit given to us

We should enjoy these blessings!

We are aware that the sufferings we endure now are part of God’s refining of us and His perfect plan.  We know these hopes are not just wishful thinking because of the Holy Spirit given to us, who demonstrates God’s love poured out to us.

5:5-8  We know that God loves us because He demonstrates it by dying for us while we were still sinners, and we are not good people.  We were God’s enemies.