Paul Continues to Emphasize the Faith of Abraham in Order to Show that God's Way of Salvation Has Always Been By Grace Through Faith Alone
Romans 4:16-25

Lesson 12

background notes

doctrinal / teaching points

1. Righteousness was reckoned to Abraham by faith alone.
2. Righteousness is reckoned to the children of Abraham by faith alone.

practical application

All you have to do is say, “Amen” to God and really mean it.

questions

1. Will Abraham be in heaven? On what basis?
2. What kind of faith did Abraham have? What kind of faith was God looking for?
3. What did God promise Abraham?
4. Righteousness is reckoned to the children of Abraham by faith alone. Who are the children of Abraham?
5. Are God’s plans and promises to Abraham’s natural seed, the Jewish people, still valid?
6. What does the word, “reckoned,” mean?

answers

1. Yes. Not by works but by faith. See Romans 4:2-3.
2. Not a feeling kind of faith. Abraham simply believed what God had said, and it was reckoned to him as faith.
3. That he would be the father of many descendants (Genesis 15).
4. Abraham is the spiritual father of all who believe, the faithful. See Galatians 3:7, 29. This does not mean that there is no longer any natural seed of Abraham.
5. Yes, and some day they will come to fruition.
6. It means “accounted to, imputed to, or credited to.” Righteousness was accounted to Abraham and written as imputed to all believers.

discuss / consider

1. God is able to reckon us as righteous by faith alone because Jesus took our sins and was raised from the dead. God is satisfied and we are justified. Ponder this.
2. Saying “Amen” to what God has said describes saving faith. It starts with believing what God has revealed in Creation, by His Word, and in His Son. Selah.

challenge

Are you saying “Amen” to God?

memorize

• “Abraham did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. Therefore ‘It was accounted to him for righteousness.’” Romans 4:20-22
• “It was not written for Abraham’s sake alone that it was imputed to him, but also for us. It shall be imputed to us who believe in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead.” Romans 4:23-24