Romans Chapter 4
In this chapter Paul makes a case to prove that faith has always been the requirement for obtaining God’s salvation. Some of his Jewish friends thought that it was the law and their circumcision that gave them righteousness. Paul reminded them of the faith of one of the most important patriarchs of the Jewish nation, Abraham. Abraham in a moment when God made a promise to him, that he would become the father of a large nation when he was childless, believed God. It was his faith that caused God to pronounce Abraham as righteous.
Genesis 15:6 And he believed the LORD, and He counted it to him as righteousness.
Let's Reflect
1. Paul in chapter 2 continued to teach that justification is through faith and not by keeping the works of the law. Does that mean that the Old Testament is irrelevant? The answer is of course a resounding “no”. Paul expounds upon the purpose of the law and circumcision. Nothing God does is irrelevant, we may not always understand His ways, but He is of course God.
2. Paul in a sense asks another rhetorical question when he brings up people thinking that it is their good works that gives them the status of righteousness. When we do works there should be payment or wages. Does God owe us anything? Of course, the answer is “no”. Therefore, our justification cannot be obtained through works because we would be saying that God owes us something. Justification or salvation is a free gift from God.
3. What blessing do we receive from God according to verses 7 and 8?
4. Going back to the case of Abraham, Paul asked a very important question. What was the question and how was it answered?
5. What was the purpose of Abraham being circumcised?
6. Paul teaches an important truth about the law in verses 14-15. If there were no law (whether we speak of Old Testament law or modern-day laws) then there would be no what?
7. Abraham had great faith in God and believed a promise God made to Him. What was the evidence Abraham knew about God that caused him to trust God? See verses 17-18.
8. Paul said that the faith of Abraham waivered a little bit when he thought about how old he was and that his wife Sarah was barren. But he trusted God and his faith grew. How old was Abraham when he was given this promise?
9. Paul wrote that the words “it was counted to him as righteousness,” were not written just for the sake of Abraham, but also for whom?
10. What righteousness can you declare? Has God pronounced you righteous because of your faith in Him?
Devotionals
