Romans Worksheet - Chapter 4

 

Introduction:
 

The word justify, which Paul uses so frequently, should be clearly apprehended. To be justified is to be counted righteous, or guiltless, before God. He who has one sin recorded against him is not justified. He whose sins are all blotted out is justified. The sinner who believes upon Jesus Christ, clings to the mercy seat by an obedient, trusting faith, and finds mercy through Christ's redeeming blood, is justified. As no man could keep the law perfectly, no man could be justified by the works of the law. As we obtain God's mercy, the righteousness God bestows in Christ, by faith in Christ Jesus, so we are justified by a faith that leads us to Christ.

 

Romans Chapter 4

1.  Who does Paul want us to look to as an example of being justified (declared not guilty) by faith? vs. 1-

2.  What has given Abraham his justification before God? vs. 2-3 -

Note:  What does it mean that Abraham's belief in God reckoned him as righteous before God? (vs.3) ... The reference given is quoted from Genesis 15:6 where nothing is mentioned about works.  Abraham had kept no law, rendered no service and performed no ritual that earned credit to his account before God.  His belief in God, who had made promises to him, was credited to him as righteousness.  When you are reckoned or credited on God's account ledger, you are marked, set aside as "His" own.  It is a one time adoption procedure, legal procedure, final procedure.  Nothing will change this.

3.  God does not continue to credit righteousness to the saint who repents, but forgives him and restores him to renewed fellowship  when he confesses. 

See these verses and comment:

• What are the results of unconfessed sin in a believer's life?
• Psalm 32:3-5 -
• What are the blessings of confessing our sin to God? List the ones y ou find from these verses:
• Psalm 32:1-11 -
• 1 John 1:8-10-

4.  Although we are not saved or declared justified by any works, what is the proof that we have truly repented and are legally God's child?  What evidence will be seen that this legal transaction has taken place? 

• James 2:17-26 -

Abraham's obedience was proof that he had truly believed.  After he was justified by faith, he walked in a manner that pleased God.  He was not only saved (justified) by faith, but he lived by faith. 

Back to Romans 4:

5.  Who is the one who is truly "justified" before God? vs. 4-5 -

• What is the only work that Jesus said would satisfy God on our behalf? See John 6:28-29 -

6.  Paul refers back to King David of the Old Testament, quoting Psalm 32:1-2.  Who did David say are the blessed ones? vs. 7-8 -

• When we come to Christ by faith, what does God do about all the sins that were previously committed in our life?
• 2 Corinthians 5:17-19 -

This is why we can rejoice along with David for this blessing of reconciliation with God!

7.  Read Romans 4:9-13

Paul asks if this blessing of justification by faith is for the circumcised only (the Jews) or also for the uncircumcised (the Gentiles, all that are not Jews)...

He asks the question...Was Abraham justified by faith when he was or was not circumcised?  He answered his own question, telling them that the circumcision was an outward seal of the faith he had already been justified in.  

Note: From Genesis 15 when God declared Abraham justified by faith until he was given the command to be circumcised in Genesis 17 was about 14 years.  This causes Abraham to be the father of the uncircumcised (believing Gentiles) as well as the father of the circumcised (believing Jews - Romans 4:12)...His story shows that for Jews and Gentiles alike, there is only one way to be justified - the way of faith.

According to Jesus Himself, what was it that Abraham believed in when he was declared righteous?

• John 8:56-58 -
• Was the gospel (the good news of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus the Messiah) preached to Abraham for him to beieve in?
• Galatians 3:7-14 -

Back to Romans 4:

8.  Paul says that if those who keep laws are the ones who become heirs of salvation and blessings, then faith means nothing at all. 

• What does he say the requirement of keeping the law brings? vs. 14-15 -

Note:  The Law, because it reveals sin and even stimulates more sin, produces wrath, not promise. (Romans 7:7-11 will explain this more when we get there).  Those without the law still violate the law; they just don't have a clearly defined law other than their own conscience.

Remember what we learned in Romans 3? 

Write it out again:

• Romans 3:9-12 -
• Romans 3:23 -

9.  Read Romans 4:16-17

God has made justification through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ the standard for both the Jew and the non-Jew (Gentile).  It is in accordance with His grace, not His laws, that the promises are guaranteed to all the descendants of faith. 

• What did Abraham, the father of faith, believe? vs. 17 -

10.  Read Romans 4:18-25

Abraham believed God's promises to him  about the 'seed' that was coming from him that all nations would be blessed in.  This 'seed' came through his son Isaac born to his barren wife Sarah in their very old ages.

• Who is this 'seed' according to the Scriptures that Abraham was believing for?
• Galatians 3:16 -

Abraham believed and had "hope against hope" that God would be true to His promises.  It was not easy; there were many obstacles, challenges, and even failures in his life before the promised 'seed' came to him, but he never gave up in trusting God and living a life that honored God in his faith to believe. 

• What was Abraham fully assured of? vs. 21 -

11.   What can we be fully assured of? vs. 23-25 -

12.  How does our justification come about by faith today?

• Romans 10:8-13 -

Application:

• Are you justified? 
• Has your faith been accounted, credited to you as righteousness? 
• Based on our lesson today, how do you know?

Your summary and prayer today:

Written by Brenda LeMoine for Heart & Home Bible Fellowship© with permission to use on RTB sites only. For personal or ministry related use, please email Brenda for permission and conditions.