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Session #5: Romans 4 God's Greatest Gift. Faith of Abraham And Session #5: Romans 4 God’s Greatest Gift. Faith of Abraham and David. Salvation by Faith, not Works. The Resurrection. Notes Compiled by: Jeno Erdelyi – 2020 Session #5: Romans 4 God’s Greatest Gift. Faith of Abraham and David. Salvation by Faith, not Works. The Resurrection. Page 52 of 450 Session #5: Romans 4 God’s Greatest Gift. Faith of Abraham and David. Salvation by Faith, not Works. The Resurrection. Session 1: Introduction and Romans 1:1 - 1:7 Session 12: Romans 9:1 - 5 Introduction. Salutation. Attributes of the Trinity. Advantages of Being a Jew? Discussion of the Covenants. The Sceptre of Judah. Eschatological Heresies. Session 2: Romans 1:8 - 1:32 The Pagan Predicament. The Need for the Gospel. God’s Session 13: Romans 9:6 - 13 Righteousness Revealed Against Pagan Humanity. Has the Word of God Failed? Doctrine of Election. Session 3: Romans 2 Session 14: Romans 9:14 - 33 The Righteousness of God Revealed. Condemnation of Moral Man. God’s Sovereignty. Moses and Pharaoh. Gentiles Called. Stumbling Stone. Session 4: Romans 3 Advantages of Being a Jew? Case Against the Entire Human Race. Session 15: Romans 10:1 - 15 Why Does God Save Anyone? Rabbinical Expectations. Salvation by Faith Taught by Moses. “Whosoever...” Israel Present. Session 5: Romans 4 God’s Greatest Gift. Faith of Abraham and David. Salvation by Faith, Session 16: Romans 10:16 - 21 not Works. The Resurrection. Review of Post-Biblical History of Israel up to modern day. Session 6: Romans 5 Session 17: Romans 11:1 - 24 Peace With God. The Sequence to Maturity. The Logic of His Love. Israel’s Future. Salvation unto the Gentiles. Two Heads: Adam and Christ. Session 18: Romans 11:25 Session 7: Romans 6 Israel’s Future—Part Two. Two Masters: Sin Personified, and God as Revealed in Jesus. The Session 19: Romans 11:25 - 36 Death of Defeat. Baptism. Sanctification. The Kingdom Parables. Mysteries. “Until.” Rapture Models. Session 8: Romans 7 Session 20: Romans 12 Law School: The Law and Christ Risen. Dead to the Law. Spirit Is Gifts. Armor. Body Life. Evidences of the Spirit-filled Person. Willing, the Flesh Is Weak. Session 21: Romans 13 Session 9: Romans 8:1 - 17 Civil Responsibilities: to the state; to those outside the Church. Deliverance from the Flesh by the Power of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit’s Inner Witness. Session 22: Romans 14 Christian Maturity. Capital Punishment. Dietary Restrictions? The Session 10: Romans 8:18 - 27 Sabbath Day Dilemma. Sunday or Saturday? The New Creation. Preservation in Suffering by the Power of the Holy Spirit. Session 23: Romans 15 Importance of Unity within the Body. In Light of Christ’s Ministry. Session 11: Romans 8:28 - 39 Paul’s Methodology and Plans. Our Eternal Security. Hymn of Praise for Victory. Certainty of Sanctification. Session 24: Romans 16 Importance of Relationships. A Most Painful Sin, Gossip. Professional Secretaries. Session #5: Romans 4 God’s Greatest Gift. Faith of Abraham and David. Salvation by Faith, not Works. The Resurrection. Page 53 of 450 Session #5: Romans 4 God’s Greatest Gift. Faith of Abraham and David. Salvation by Faith, not Works. The Resurrection. Session #5 The Book of Romans Chapter 4 God’s greatest gift – Justification by faith. In Chapter 4, Paul presented several irrefutable reasons why justification is by faith: 1) Since justification is a gift, it cannot be earned by works (vv. 1-8). 2) Since Abraham was justified before he was circumcised, circumcision has no relationship to justification (vv. 9-12). 3) Since Abraham was justified centuries before the Law, justification is not based on the Law (vv. 13-17). 4) Abraham was justified because of his faith in God, not because of his works (vv. 18-25). Review The last half of Acts is mostly about Paul; it ends with him going to Rome, so it’s appropriate the epistle to follow Acts is Romans. It is a continuation of Acts in many ways. Romans is the most comprehensive statement of the Gospel in the entire Bible. Some call it the “Gospel according to Paul.” The impact of Romans on world history is unequalled by any other book of the Bible. Penned by Paul: One of the most brilliant minds Schooled in both Hebrew and Greek schools Jewish by background and a Roman Citizen Session #5: Romans 4 God’s Greatest Gift. Faith of Abraham and David. Salvation by Faith, not Works. The Resurrection. Page 54 of 450 Session #5: Romans 4 God’s Greatest Gift. Faith of Abraham and David. Salvation by Faith, not Works. The Resurrection. In Romans 3, Paul shared something that must have appeared radical, almost heretical to his readers when he said salvation does not come from keeping rules and regulations, from trying to be good, but by faith, apart from the works of the law. I. Abraham and David Demonstrate Righteousness Apart from Works 1) Abraham was not justified by works, but declared righteous through faith. [1] What then shall we say that Abraham our father has found according to the flesh? 2) Abraham, our first father (better translation) reveals that the Jew began with Abraham (Matthew genealogy). “First father” is a peculiar expression but reveals the importance attached to Abraham. He was first chronologically, and also first in importance. [2] For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. 3) The Jews were proud of Abraham and themselves. The Rabbis had taught that Abraham had a surplus of merit from his works that was available to his descendants. Paul built on that idea and agreed that, assuming that Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about (cf. boasting or bragging in Rom 2:17, 23; 3:27). But, Paul insisted, his boasting could only be before other people, not before God. a) “Abraham stood on the same ground on which the weakest sinner stands.” (McGee) [3] For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” 4) God declared Abraham righteous when Abraham simply believed Him (Gen 15:6). a) When is a man saved? i) When he follows God’s call obediently? No! ii) When he offers himself or something he loves sacrificially? No! iii) When he goes to where the Lord tells him to go? No! (1) It is when he simply says, “Lord, I believe You. I believe that what You say is true, even when I don’t understand it fully.” b) Let’s think about it. The Jews knew scripture and Paul said, “Abraham was pronounce righteous when he was doing something spiritual or sacrificial, but when he simply believed God.” 5) Steps of faith of an uncircumcised Abraham: from his “call” in Gen 12 to his circumcision in Gen 17. Session #5: Romans 4 God’s Greatest Gift. Faith of Abraham and David. Salvation by Faith, not Works. The Resurrection. Page 55 of 450 Session #5: Romans 4 God’s Greatest Gift. Faith of Abraham and David. Salvation by Faith, not Works. The Resurrection. a) Revelation of the God of glory in Ur of Chaldees; b) Obedience to God’s command to leave his country, kindred, father’s house; [tarrying at Haran until his father died (Acts 7:4; Gen 11:3)]; c) Altar worship in Canaan (Gen 12:7, 8); d) Choosing his portion with God [vs. Lot’s separation (Gen 13)]; e) Victory over the kings (Gen 14); f) Received by Melchizedek, “God Most High” and rejecting riches from men (Gen 14); g) Believing God’s word concerning his seed, counting on God to do the impossible, and thus “accounted righteous” (Gen 15). [4] Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt. 6) It is a general rule that a workman receives wages. a) If you are doing something for me, then I owe you a debt. b) If I give you something you don’t deserve = “Grace.” c) Your “trying to deserve it” clouds the graciousness of my gift! [5] But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness, 7) This is one of the strongest statements that Paul has made thus far. God justifies the ungodly. 8) It is not the one that has faith in his faith, but the one who has faith in the goodness, the provision, and the loving-kindness of the Lord. a) The Lord would say, “Because you’re not trying to earn My favor or My blessing, you are simply believing that I am the Justifier of the ungodly, I pronounce you righteous.” Session #5: Romans 4 God’s Greatest Gift. Faith of Abraham and David. Salvation by Faith, not Works. The Resurrection. Page 56 of 450 Session #5: Romans 4 God’s Greatest Gift. Faith of Abraham and David. Salvation by Faith, not Works. The Resurrection. [6-8] Just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works: “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; blessed is the man to whom the Lord shall not impute sin.” 9) Paul quotes Ps 32:1, 2: “ Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.” This teaches justification apart from human merit (“not impute” = “not take into account” (Ps 51:9; Isa 43:24, 25). a) Martin Luther loved best the Psalmi Paulini, “The Pauline Psalms:” Psalms 32, 51, 130 and 143.
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