Romans - April 7, 2008

Section -- Three: Justification -- Romans 3:21-5:18 (continued)

VI. {Rom 4:18-25} Abraham’s faith based on what God could do, not what was logical or practical
A. Introduction
1. Review — Paul has provided sound arguments using human logic with Holy Spirit inspired writings establishing it is not possible nor appropriate for the efforts of mankind (works of merit) to be the source or reason a person is righteous — only by God’s grace can one be righteous.
2. Preview — Necessary consequences, for the readers, of Abraham’s example of righteousness as the fruit of faith not merit.
B. Question For Discussion?
1. What is specifically required of Paul’s readers to be credited as righteous as was Abraham?
C. Questions For Encouraging Discussion...
1. There are two ways to be righteousness or justified before God, i.e., have one’s sins not taken into account — one is stated and one is implied; one is possible and one is not.
a. By grace or by being worthy (earning it)
OBSERVATION: There are two types or kind of faith: Blind faith (believe because I want to believe) and faith based on accurate evidence (e.g., the testimony of qualified witness such as found in the Word of God, i.e. our Bible.)
2. (4:18) Why did Abraham, according to this verse, not give up hope?
a. It was beyond Abraham’s power to produce a child, only way he “might become a father...” was by God’s ability to fulfill the promise made to Abraham.
3. (Gen 16:2; 17:15-18) Abraham was 86 when Ishmael was born and 99 when he made this request on behalf of Ishmael. What insight does this give to Rom 4:18?
a. Abraham’s faith in God did not waver (he always had faith in God) but there is at least one time when he felt God needed a little help.
b. Righteousness is credited not because Abraham’s faith was perfect but because it was the quality acceptable to God. (cf. 1Jo 1:9)
4. (4:19-21) What is the logical or practical situation with Abraham and Sarah having a child?
a. They do not have the physical ability to have child.
5. How did Abraham respond to his and Sarah’s physical situation?
a. Trusted more in God and continued to praise God — did not reject God nor blame God.
6. Why did Abraham’s faith in God grow stronger?
a. Abraham was confident God had the ability to do what God said He is going to do — even if time frame (25 years) was not same as Abraham’s.
b. From the time God made the child promise Abraham had more than one opportunity to observe God operate in the affairs of man.
7. (4:22) What was reckoned to Abraham as equal to righteousness?
a. The “therefore” refers to the quality of Abraham’s response to God’s promise (4:21)— was “fully assured”
b. Righteousness was given based not on his quality of works but his quality of faith (trust) in God’s promise
8. (4:23-24) Why is what is written about Abraham’s faith also for the sake of the Paul’s readers?
a. The readers are informed those accepting and acting upon what God says are righteous — to enable everyone to know faith not works is credited as righteousness.
9. To be righteous Abraham had to have faith he and Sarah would have child, what is expected of Paul’s readers?
a. Believed Jesus was raised from the dead.
10. (4:25) What enabled God to not apply judicial wrath to those earning His wrath (broke His law) because they did not earn righteousness? (cf. 3:25)
a. Faith in Jesus, because of His life and death, as a propitiation (sacrifice).
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A LOOK AHEAD

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.
D. Evidence Applied [Discussion Question Answered] — What is specifically required of Paul’s readers to be credited as righteous as was Abraham?
1.
E. Conclusion
1.

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.
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