Study session scripture: Romans 4:1-12

What then shall we say was gained by Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.” Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness, just as David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works: “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin.” Is this blessing then only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? For we say that faith was counted to Abraham as righteousness. How then was it counted to him? Was it before or after he had been circumcised? It was not after, but before he was circumcised. He received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. The purpose was to make him the father of all who believe without being circumcised, so that righteousness would be counted to them as well, and to make him the father of the circumcised who are not merely circumcised but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.

Study session topics:

• Abraham as Father of Jews and Gentiles

• Paul bolsters his presentation of the Gospel message by arguing that this was always God's plan of salvation, going all the way back to Abraham

• Abraham is a perfect example to use

• Father of the Jewish people, first to be chosen by God

• Lived before the Law was given

• Paul argues that Abraham gained righteousness from God by faith as the Christian does (Gen. 15:6)

• Misconceptions about Abraham's justification

• God justified Abraham due to his own goodness and piety

• God counted Abraham as righteous due to his faith as a substitute for his works

• Paul also briefly brings in the example of David

• Direct ancestor of Jesus

• King whose throne was promised forever by God

• Man after God's own heart

• Paul argues that Psalm 32:1-2 is David professing salvation by faith

• Scripture here and in Gen. 15:6 uses bookkeeping terminology to describe the process of justification

• Paul folds his Gentile audience back in by universalizing the promise of justification by faith

• This promise is not bound to circumcision because it predates circumcision

• Circumcision as a sign and seal of righteousness by faith, not by the law

• Points back to Romans 2:28-29, circumcision is a matter of the heart

• How were the Old Testament saints saved before the life and death of Jesus?

• They believed the Gospel--they looked forward to it while we look back at it (Gal. 3:7-9, John 8:56)

• Abraham and the other OT saints anticipated a future savior who would rescue them from their sins

Study session audio: