By Faith Alone

Scripture Reading: Romans 4:1-12.

Memory Verse: "But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: that, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord." (1 Corinthians 1:30,31).

Introduction: "The entire fourth chapter of Romans is devoted to Abraham, whom Paul uses as an illustration of the central biblical truth that man can become right with God only by faith in response to His grace, and never by works. Verses 6-8 pertain to David, but Paul is simply using David as an illustration to substantiate what he is teaching about Abraham.
  "We can assume several reasons for Paul's choosing Abraham as the supreme example of salvation by faith. First, Abraham lived about 2,000 years before Paul wrote this letter, demonstrating that the principle of salvation by faith rather than by works was not new in Judaism . . .
  "Second, Paul used Abraham as an example . . . simply because he was a human being. Until this point in Romans, Paul has been speaking primarily about theological truths in the abstract. In Abraham he gives a flesh and blood illustration of justification by faith.
  "The third, and doubtless the most important, reason Paul used Abraham as the example of justification by faith was that, although rabbinical teaching and popular Jewish belief were contrary to Scripture as far as the basis of Abraham's righteousness was concerned, they agreed that Abraham was the Old Testament's supreme example of a godly, righteous man who is acceptable to the Lord. He is the biblical model of genuine faith and godliness . . .
  "The majority of the Jews in Paul's day believed that Abraham was made right with God because of his own righteous character. They believed God chose Abraham to be the father of His people Israel because Abraham was the most righteous man on earth during his time. Like many cults today, they took certain scriptural passages and twisted or interpreted them out of context in order to support their preconceived ideas."--The Preacher's Outline & Sermon Bible, Romans 7, p. 63.
  "By using Abraham as the supreme scriptural example of justification or salvation, by faith alone, Paul was storming the very citadel of traditional Judaism. By demonstrating that Abraham was not justified by works, the apostle demolished the foundation of rabbinical teaching--that man is made right with God by keeping the law, that is, on the basis of his own religious efforts and works. If Abraham was not and could not have been justified by keeping the law, then no one could be. Conversely, if Abraham was justified solely on the basis of his faith in God, then everyone else must be justified in the same way, since Abraham is the biblical standard of a righteous man."--John MacArthur, The MacArthur New Testament Commentary, Romans 1-8, p. 232.

Lesson Questions:

1. Did Abraham receive any benefit whatsoever from anything that found its source in himself or in his own character and acts? Romans 4:1-3; Galatians 2:16; Ephesians 2:8,9; Titus 3:4,5.
  "Since it is totally and utterly impossible for us to furnish the righteousness which His nature demands  that He require of us, there is only one way for Him to do it, and that is to provide it Himself and give it to us as a gift. That which we can never attain we may obtain. That which we cannot earn we may receive. And it must be done outside of our being and beyond our . . . doing. God must do it all."--John MacArthur, The MacArthur New Testament Commentary, Romans 1-8, p. 233.

2. Compare the manner in which God reckons righteousness upon those who believe in Him with those who earn a wage. Romans 4:4,5; 5:1; Philippians 3:9; Proverbs 20:6; 30:12; Hebrews 11:6.

3. As proclaimed by King David, in what three ways is the person of genuine faith blessed? Romans 4:6-8; Psalm 32:1,2; 103:3,12; Isaiah 38:17; 43:25; 55:7; 1 Peter 2:24.

4. Who receives this blessing of forgiveness? Romans 4:9a; Luke 3:6; Acts 2:21; Romans 10:13; 1 Timothy 2:4; 2 Peter 3:9.

5. What did God credit to Abraham's account due to his faith? Romans 4:9b; Galatians 3:6.

6. Was the righteousness imputed to Abraham established in any way on the ritual of circumcision? Romans 4:10; 2:28,29; Colossians 2:11,12; Deuteronomy 30:6.

7. Is circumcision that which conveyed righteousness upon Abraham, or did it only bear testimony to the righteousness already imputed to him? Romans 4:11a; James 2:18; 1 Corinthians 1:22.
"Circumcision was a seal in that it stamped God's justification upon Abraham's mind . . . Circumcision was given as a seal or a stamp upon his body to remind him that God had counted him righteous through belief."--Donald Grey Barnhouse, God's Remedy, (Romans 3:21-4:1-25), p. 201.

8. Of what value was Abraham's circumcision to future generation? Romans 4:11b,12; Luke 19:8-10; Galatians 5:6.