ABRAHAM JUSTIFIED BY FAITH

ROMANS Chapter 4

Abraham Justified By Faith

What shall we say that Abraham, our forefather,

Discovered in this matter?

2 If in fact, Abraham was Justified by Works,

He had something to Boast about--

But not before God.

3 What does the Scripture say?

'ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD ,

AND IT WAS CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS.'

4 No when a man works,

His Wages are not credited to him as a Gift,

But as and Obligation.

5 However, to the man who does not work

BUT TRUSTS GOD WHO JUSTIFIES THE WICKED,

HIS FAITH IS CREDITED AS RIGHTEOUSNESS.

6 David says the same thing

When he speaks of the blessedness

Of the man to whom God credits Righteousness

Apart form Works.

7 'Blessed are they whose Transgressions are forgiven,

Whose Sins are covered.

8 Blessed is the man whose Sin

The Lord will never count against him.'

9 Is this Blessedness only for the Circumcised,

Or also for the Uncircumcised?

We have been saying that Abraham's Faith

Was credited to him as Righteousness.

10 Under what circumstances was it credited?

Was it after he was Circumcised, or before?

IT WAS NOT AFTER BUT BEFORE!

11 AND HE RECEIVED THE SIGN OF CIRCUMCISION,

A SEAL OF THE RIGHTEOUSNESS

THAT HE HAD BY FAITH

WHILE HE WAS STILL UNCIRCUMCISED.

SO THEN, HE IS THE FATHER OF ALL WHO BELIEVE

BUT HAVE NOT BEEN CIRCUMCISED,

IN ORDER THAT RIGHTEOUSNESS

MIGHT BE CREDITED TO THEM.

12 AND HE IS ALSO THE FATHER OF THE CIRCUMCISED

WHO NOT ONLY ARE CIRCUMCISED

BUT WHO ALSO WALK IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF THE FAITH

THAT OUR FATHER ABRAHAM HAD BEFORE HE WAS CIRCUMCISED.

13 IT WAS NOT THROUGH LAW

THAT ABRAHAM AND HIS OFFSPRING RECEIVED THE PROMISE

THAT HE WOULD BE HEIR OF THE WORLD,

BUT THROUGH THE RIGHTEOUSNESS

THAT COMES BY FAITH.

14 FOR THOSE WHO LIVE BY LAW ARE HEIRS,

FAITH HAS NO VALUE

AND THE PROMISE IS WORTHLESS,

15 BECAUSE THE LAW BRINGS WRATH.

AND WHERE THERE IS NO LAW THERE IS NO TRANSGRESSION.

16 THEREFORE, THE PROMISE COMES BY FAITH,

SO THAT IT MAY BE BY GRACE

AND MANY BE GUARANTEED

TO ALL THOSE WHO ARE OF THE LAW

BUT ALSO TO THOSE WHO ARE OF THE FAITH OF ABRAHAM.

17 As it is written:

'I HAVE MADE YOU A FATHER OF MAY NATIONS.'

HE IS OUR FATHER IN THE SIGHT OF GOD,

IN WHOM HE BELIEVED--

THE GOD WHO GIVES LIFE TO THE DEAD

AND CALLS THINGS THAT ARE NOT AS THOUGH THEY WERE.

18 AGAINST ALL HOPE, ABRAHAM IN HOPE BELIEVED

AND SO BECAME THE FATHER OF MANY NATIONS,

Just as it has been said of him,

'SO SHALL YOUR OFFSPRING BE.'

19 WITHOUT WEAKENING IN HIS FAITH,

HE FACED THE FACT

THAT HIS BODY WAS AS GOOD AS DEAD--

AND SARAH'S WOMB WAS ALSO DEAD.

20 Yet he did not Waver through Unbelief

Regarding the Promise of God,

BEING FULLY PERSUADED

THAT GOD HAD POWER TO DO WHAT HE HAD PROMISED.

21 THIS IS WHY 'IT WAS CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS.'

23 The words 'it was credited to him'

Were written not for him alone,

24 But also for us,

TO WHOM GOD WILL CREDIT RIGHTEOUSNESS--

FOR US WHO BELIEVE IN HIM

WHO RAISED JESUS OUR LORD FROM THE DEAD.

25 HE WAS DELIVERED OVER TO DEATH

FOR OUR SINS

AND WAS RAISED TO LIFE FOR OUR JUSTIFICATION.

(Romans 4)

Those who have Faith are Justified

Before God, and receive the Promises of God.