Romans 4:13-25

KING JAMES:

Rom 4:13  For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. 

Rom 4:14  For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect: 

Rom 4:15  Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression. 

Rom 4:16  Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all, 

Rom 4:17  (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were. 

Rom 4:18  Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be. 

Rom 4:19  And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara's womb: 

Rom 4:20  He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; 

Rom 4:21  And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. 

Rom 4:22  And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness. 

Rom 4:23  Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; 

Rom 4:24  But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; 

Rom 4:25  Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification. 

Main Points: Paul closes the door on law and opens the dialog for the case concerning the power of practicing faith in God/Jesus. This is Paul’s second round of case building for faith (3:21-31). Now, we see his personal pronoun structure change! It is no longer them/they/you….but us/our. His penchant for unity building has him associating himself and the other Jewish members with the Gentiles (24).

6. Explain the promise to Abraham. How does Paul expand on the promise? How does one receive the promise? “That he would be heir to the world” …this only being accomplished in his descendant Jesus, the Christ. The original promise to Abraham (in his mind) would have been limited to the area where he lived. God extends the promises to say “many descendents (etc)” and Gen 12:3 in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. ----This is a known factor to the Jew. But Paul uses this opportunity to finalize the obliteration of any Judaizing teaching of the need for law….or any other law! It’s faith that will give God a case for justice with his creation!

7. What does the law bring?  “Law worketh wrath” ….or punishment. Nope….that’s not what we’re looking for. That’s not what GOD is looking for. Note that Paul’s secondary statement in this verse is key: for where no law is, there is no transgression. That is not to say that sin will simply stop plaguing the believer. But if we exercise faith, sin diminishes and we give God just cause to judge us without regard to our sin.

8. Explain verse 16. This is Paul’s reiteration of Jew and Gentile inclusion. He is not saying that reliance on law will make justice, that would be a complete contradiction. Those “which is of law” are the Jews (the direct offspring). Those who have the faith of Abraham are made a part of this system….being “the father of us all”.

9. What lessons do we learn from Abraham? The importance of faith is punctuated by the CHARACTER of Abraham.  (19) he did not waver, (20) no distrust, grew strong  (21) fully convinced. Abraham practiced these beliefs in cases where the odds seemed impossible, but he just simply did not stop believing in God’s ability.

10. Explain verses 23-25.  This message is two-fold. First, we are all in this together. He is hearkening back to his earlier argument that we all need this salvation found in God through Jesus. Secondary and more importantly, this system of faith/grace is how we work out our salvation. It is how we give God the ability (opportunity) to JUSTIFY us while HE remains JUST.

Additional:
Note that it is this faith that gives God the power to find us justified. Without it, God cannot help us (let’s not forget, our faith is manifested through our obedience). In this illustration, there is a promise made by God. The promise is not faith…that is something we have to supply. In the end, God must be able to justify us before the promise can be delivered in a just context.

The flow of this section is to help us understand how to become righteous/justified before God so we can be His servants/children. The illustrated promise is the messianic promise given to Abraham.
Numbers after the word are for verses and  Strong’s references:

The Promise	Not Delivered Through Law	Rather By Faith	And Belief
13, 14, 16, 20/1860 21/1861	13, 14, 15, 16/3551 (Parceling out punishment)	13, 14, 16, 16, 19,20/4102 (inferred only in 22)	17, 18, 24/4100
	God’s Character	(16) Grace/5485
Man’s Proven Character (Evidentiary)	Resulting Opportunity(s)	Verdict
(19) Did not waver (20) No Distrust (20) Grew Strong (21) Fully Convinced	22, 23, 24/3049 Imputed, or Conclusion-	13, 22/1343 – Righteousness 25/1347 - JUSTIFICATION

Romans 4:1-12

KING JAMES:

Rom 4:1  What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath  found? 

Rom 4:2  For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. 

Rom 4:3  For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. 

Rom 4:4  Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. 

Rom 4:5  But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. 

Rom 4:6  Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, 

Rom 4:7  Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. 

Rom 4:8  Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin. 

Rom 4:9  Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness. 

Rom 4:10  How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision. 

Rom 4:11  And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also: 

Rom 4:12  And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised. 

Main Points: Paul extends the case for the spiritual Jew: Noting that Abraham was found acceptable before God because of his faith. This transaction occurred before his circumcision…thus establishing what it is that makes us acceptable to God….faith. This is without regard to nationality or heritage.

1.       How was Abraham justified? God was given the ability to justify, because Abraham believed God, and he believed IN God. Remember, this teaching is supporting what Paul lays down in chapter 2….the Law does not justify. It convicts!

2.       Explain the principle in verses 5-6: We must not ignore verse four’s grace component. We cannot make God owe us a righteous judgment.  As stated, we all just sin too much for that to ever happen. So, it can never be earned. In this section, Paul focuses on belief…..putting our trust in God. THAT is what gives God the path to a righteous judgment for us. Paul will address how works integrate into this system later.

3.       How does David confirm these principles of justification?  Ps32- This Psalm teaches the virtue of confession before God, and opening our lives to His teaching and discipline(s).  “the Lord’s unfailing love surrounds the one who trusts in Him”

4.       How does the timing of Abraham’s justification further Paul’s point? This is actually his main point. It is an extension of the statement not all are Jews outwardly only. Abraham was found righteous before God BEFORE the Jewish covenant seal of circumcision. Thus: Showing that justification/righteousness before God is found the more abstract act of belief….not with futile works (of law). This justification is apart from the later development of the Jewish nation. Most specifically, it is separate from a system based on laws.

5.       Who are the children of Abraham?  11,12) Anyone who practices and exhibits faith in God….ANYONE

NOTE: It is very easy to get ahead of Paul and try to make the case for obedience (works). Stop. Don’t do that. He will do it later. I would suggest that if we continually feel the need to qualify the need for works, perhaps we are ourselves stuck in a system of law. Paul at this juncture is looking to emphasize faith. Leave it at that…the rest will fall into place.

Additional:
KJ -JUSTIFIED  Vs 2,5- G1344 From G1342; dikaioō dik-ah-yo'-o to render (that is, show or regard as) just or innocent
KJ RIGHTEOUS(NESS)- 3,5,6,9,11 -G 1343 -dikaiosunē dik-ah-yos-oo'-nay From G1342; equity (of character or act)

Believe/Faith-Used some 6x in this text carries the argument  -

3,5) Believed G4100 pisteuō pist-yoo'-o From G4102; to have faith (in, upon, or with respect to, a person or thing), that is, credit; by implication to entrust

5,9,11,12)Faith  G4102 pistis pis'-tis From G3982; persuasion, that is, credence; moral conviction

Belief/faith is the underpinning of being found “justified” – “righteous” by God.

Romans 3:21-31

KING JAMES:

Rom 3:21  But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; 

Rom 3:22  Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: 

Rom 3:23  For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 

Rom 3:24  Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 

Rom 3:25  Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; 

Rom 3:26  To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. 

Rom 3:27  Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. 

Rom 3:28  Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. 

Rom 3:29  Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also: 

Rom 3:30  Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith. 

Rom 3:31  Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law. 

Main Points: If we are not justified through the law….then WHAT? Faith. Faith is a main point, but more broadly, you don’t need to be a Jew to have faith in God. Thus: Justification is extended to anyone who has this faith.

12. How has the righteousness of God been revealed? What does this mean? (21) Apart from the law, but testified to by the law and prophets. Paul explains that the law and prophets are merely witnesses to something better. They were not THE things by which God would parcel out justice.

13. How has the righteousness of God been revealed? How is a person benefited by this? (22) By/through faith in Jesus Christ. Belief in God (trust) becomes the corner stone to being in a right relationship with God. This type of system is not identified by heritage.

14. What is there no distinction concerning? God does not differentiate between races or ancestory.

15. Explain verse 25. What does it mean that Jesus was put forward as a propitiation? Define propitiation. How is this propitiation received? How did this show God’s righteousness? Propitiation-G2435 hilastērion hil-as-tay'-ree-on Neuter of a derivative of G2433; an expiatory (place or thing), that is, (concretely) an atoning victim. For Propitiation to have any significance, one must also understand Redemption and Remission. Redemption denotes “off/loosen” or not being held accountable for a wrong committed. Strong’s adds the sense of a ransom being paid. REMISSION –in this context it means to overlook, or pass over (judgment of sin(s)).  How do we achieve this? Faith in the blood of the propitiation….the atoning victim, Jesus the Christ

16. Explain verse 26. Within this plan, God is just (innocent/holy) because through the plan mankind has a path to God. Also within this plan, God is the catalyst behind that path. HE is the one who makes it work.

17. How is one justified (27-28)?  By faith, without regard to obedience to the law. Note: This is not necessarily a commentary of the VALUE of law. Nor does it try to explain everything good concerning the law. Paul is focusing on how humans can be found righteous before God.

Additional:
Note: Paul is speaking directly against reliance on the law. His words will be specifically directed towards establishing what Christ’s system IS and that which is foundational to that system. He will also be focusing on what this system can accomplish (compared to what the  law cannot accomplish on its own).

21) Witnessed- G3140 martureō mar-too-reh'-o From G3144; to be a witness, that is, testify

24) Grace - 5485 From G5463; graciousness (as gratifying), of manner or act (abstract or concrete; literal, figurative or spiritual; (5463 – full of cheer)

24) redemption – G629 apolutrōsis ap-ol-oo'-tro-sis From a compound of G575 and G3083; (the act) ransom in full, (root words denote “off” – “loosen”)

25) remission – G3929 paresis par'-es-is From G2935; praetermission  - (to overlook or pass over)

31) Establish (the law) – G2476- histēmi his'-tay-mee A prolonged form of a primary word στάω staō (of the same meaning, and used for it in certain tenses); to stand