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The Blue Letter Bible

Carl Westerlund :: Romans 4:1-5 - A Lesson from Abraham

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References for Gen 15:6 —  1   2 

Romans in Outline No. 42

1.1  THE ILLUSTRATION OF ABRAHAM

Romans 4:1-3

2.1  A lead–off question

Romans 4:1

3.1  WHY THE ABRAHAM EXAMPLE?

4.1  Because he proves the point

4.2  Because of the respect given to him

4.3  Because it showed that this teaching is consistent with the Old Testament

3.2  THE MEANING OF “FLESH” HERE

4.1  Could mean “Physically descended”

4.2  Better choice: equivalent of works

2.2  Abraham had nothing to boast about before God

Romans 4:2

3.1  THE PERFORMANCE TRAP

3.2  GOD IS NOT IMPRESSED WITH PERFORMANCE

2.3  Why Abraham has no boast: He received righteousness only by faith

Romans 4:3

3.1  ABRAM 75 YEARS OLD WHEN HE LEFT UR

Genesis 12:4

3.2  ABRAHAM 85 YEARS OLD WHEN GOD SPEAKS

Genesis 15:6

3.3  ABRAHAM RECKONED RIGHTEOUS BEFORE HE DID HIS GOOD WORKS

4.1  Before he interceded for righteous souls in Sodom

Genesis 18

4.2  Before he saw Isaac born

Genesis 21

4.3  Before he offered up his only son on an altar

Genesis 22

BUT James 2:21

Abraham’s act was evidence that he was justified some 25 years earlier in Genesis 15

3.4  ABRAHAM ANTICIPATED THE MESSIAH

John 8:56

1.2  THE PRINCIPLE FROM ABRAHAM’S ILLUSTRATION FOR US

Romans 4:4-5

2.1  A person who works receives what is due, which is contrary to grace

Romans 4:4

2.2  Even the ungodly can be saved, because faith is credited as righteousness

Romans 4:5

Romans 4:1-5

1 What then shall we say that Abraham our father has found according to the flesh? 2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. 3 For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” 4 Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt. 5 But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness, (NKJV)

Romans 3:29-31 - Establishing the Law ← Prior Section
Romans 4:6-8 - David Also Next Section →
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