Romans - April 13, 2008

Section -- Three; Justification -- Romans 3:21-5:18

VI (Romans 4:18-25)
A. Introduction
B. Question For Discussion
C. Questions For Encouraging Discussion
1. Continued from previous Class Follow Up's

11. (4:25) Justification means being freed from the guilt of wrong doing (sin), this was accomplished by Jesus’ death (3:25), thus, what part does Jesus’ resurrection have in our justification (cf. 1Co 15:16-19).
a. Gives tangible proof God accepted Jesus as the propitiatory sacrifice.
b. Gives us more than “blind faith” there is life beyond this life.
c. Give us more than “blind faith” when we go to Christ ask for our “new” sins to be forgiven He is there (1Jo 1:7-2:2)
d. Satan could not stop the resurrection, but can create doubt it happened in the minds of those not seeking Truth based on quality written evidence.
D. Evidence Applied [Discussion Question Answered] — What is specifically required of Paul’s readers to be credited as righteous as was Abraham?
1. Paul’s readers must have faith in what God says to them as Abraham had in what God said to him — i.e., Jesus died because of their transgression and was raised from the dead.
E. Conclusion
1. Paul has provided arguments, from scripture, showing Abraham was declared righteous (saved) by God’s grace not by Abraham’s works (works of merit) — Abraham was saved by his faith (trust) because God did not own Abraham anything.
2. Abraham’s faith was not a blind faith, but a faith based on seeing God in action, the reader’s faith was to be based on evidence and sound (logical) argument from Holy Spirit inspired Scripture.
3. Faith’s fruit is trusting God in our words and deeds — walking the talk in good times and bad times, when it is logical and practical and when it is not.

VII. {Rom 5:1-11} Assurance of Justification
A. Introduction
1. Review — Paul has established that neither Jew nor Gentile has been justified with God by their efforts. None have been perfect keepers of the law, consequently all were sinners and could not be sure they were justified. Abraham, however, was revealed as being justified and, contrary to the Jews thinking, as Paul has shown by using scripture, he was not justified by works nor by circumcision, but by faith!
2. Preview — Paul now explores not the fruits of justification by faith but the graciousness and the certain reliability of justification by faith based on the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.
B. Question For Discussion?
1. Why can those justified by faith rejoice, in this life, with confidence?
C. Questions For Encouraging Discussion...
1. NOTE: (5:1) “we have” should read “let us have” (footnote ASV, NASB).
a. Not present active indicative [TR] = The subject of verb has something done to it.
b. But present active subjunctive [WH] = The subject of verb is exhorted to do something
c. Point: Those in Christ are to do (“let us have”) what follows — it is not done (“we have”) to them against their will.
(1) As followers they have it available and they are to use it.
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A LOOK AHEAD

2. (5:1) What has happened to cause the readers to receive the exhortation?
a.
3. (5:1-3) What three things are the readers exhorted to do?
a.
4. (5:3-5) What support has Paul previously given his readers for the assurance tribulations will lead to hope?
a.
5. The readers rejoice in “tribulation” because of a hope that does not disappoint; when did they have that hope, i.e., what is the time frame?
a.
6. (5:5) Why did they have hope that did not disappoint?
a.
7. (5:5) How was the love of God poured into their inward man?
a.
8. (5:6) In what way were the readers “helpless”, i.e., did they had to receive some measure of the Holy Sprit to believe?
a.
9. (5:6) Why the hope [5:5] given will not a disappoint?
a. .
10. (5:7) What is the difference between a righteous and a good man?
a.
11. (5:8) What is there about Christ’s death that is different than the death of one person for another person.
a.
12. (5:9) Christ’s death justified the readers, what is the significance being justified?
a.
13. PONDER: Based on (5:9-10) is it an accurate sequences of events to say because one refuse to have faith in God’s Son as the propitiation they shall receive God’s wrath (cf. 4:25; 5:1)?
a.
14. (5:10) Paul has proven Christ’s death reconciled the readers to God, in what way are the readers saved by Christ’s life? (cf. 1Jo 1:7-9; 2:1)
a.

D. Evidence Applied: Why can those justified by faith rejoice, in this life, with confidence?
1.
E. Conclusion