Abraham the Father of us All (pt 3)

1.THE CONTEXT OF ROMANS 4 a) This chapter is where Paul uses Abraham as an example for us today. Before we get into this chapter we need to understand its context. i. Romans 1:1-17 – Introduction. ii. Romans 1:18-32 – Gentiles pronounced sinners, given over to a reprobate mind. iii. Romans 2 – Jews are also sinners and have broken the law, a true Jew is one who is born a Jew and keeps the law iv. Romans 3:1-20 – All men are sinners. v. Romans 3:21-31 – Justified by faith in Christ blood apart from the law, no difference between Jew or Gentile. b) Paul is introducing us to the gospel of grace and how we are justified freely by grace through faith and not of works. 2. ROMANS CHAPTER 4 a) Romans 4:1-5 – What did Abraham find? What saith the scripture – Gen 15:6 – Paul here in the first 5 verses states that Abraham was justified by his faith apart from any works b) Romans 4:6-8 – David states that those who are forgiven are blessed, which is true. Paul then asks the question on who gets this blessing, and how do they get it? – vs 9-10 c) Paul shows from the scripture that Abraham received righteousness before he was circumcised – Vs 10-12 – And that he is the Father not only to those who are under the law, but also to those who walk according to the faith that Abraham had “before” he was given circumcision – Vs 12. d) Romans 4:13-15 – The promise was given before the Law (Gens 15:4-6, 17:3-6) e) Romans 4:16 – Therefore – because Abraham had righteousness imputed to him and was given the promise before the Law shows that it is of faith, that it might be by grace, that the promise might be sure. i. What is the promise here? A land? No. A mighty nation? No. Possess the gates of our enemies? No. Righteousness (Rom 3:22) The Spirit (Gal 3:14, Eph 1:13). ii. Abraham is the “Father of us all" because he is the Father of the circumcision in the flesh (which was obvious - vs 16) – Exo 3:16, Josh 24:1-3, Isa 41:8, 51. Paul is making the point that he is also the Father spiritually of those who have faith even if they are not circumcised – Rom 4:16-17a. f) Rom 4:17-21 – Paul here makes the point that Abraham believed in the true God. It’s not just faith in anything, but faith in the true God and what he has said – Rom 10:17, Rom 4:3, Gal 3:6, Gen 15:6. i. According to that which was spoken – Abraham did not believe the gospel that we believe today because that wasn’t spoken to him. What was spoken was “So shall thy seed be” – Gen 15:4-5. g) Rom 4:22 – Abraham had righteousness imputed because of his faith. h) “Now” – Paul brings us back to present day because there was a difference in the message given to Abraham and the message given to Paul. i) Rom 4:23-24a – It was written not just for Abraham, but for us too, so that we could know that God can impute righteousness by faith alone, apart from works. j) Rom 4:24-25 – We also have righteousness imputed “if we believe” – Not if we work, keep the law, get baptized, go to church, tithe, accept Jesus, ask Jesus into our heart, but…… If we believe on him that raised up Jesus from the dead (John 2:19, 5:26, 10:17-18, Acts 16:30-31). k) Rom 4:25 – This is the gospel we believe today – Rom 5:8-10 1Cor 15:1-4, Gal 2:20.