Romans 4:1-5

Read Romans 4:1-2. The question is asked, "What about Abraham? Was he justified by works?" Paul goes back to scriptures, Read Romans 4:3. Paul does what Jesus did, he appeals to the scripture. He quoted Genesis 15: Abraham believed God. Not Abraham obeyed, did good works, and therefore was good enough. Consider the text of Genesis, Abraham was told by God that his old barren wife was going to give him a child. Abraham believed and trusted in God's promise and that belief is what made him right in the eyes of God, it was credited to him as righteousness. It was not when he obeyed God, but when he believed that he was made righteous. This is the first time in the Bible that we see how to get right with God. By faith! By faith! By faith! How much faith does it take to sit on a stool? That's what God requires of us, enough faith to just sit. Faith is all about God, not about you. It requires humility, "I cannot do it, I need you Lord."

Read Romans 4:4-5. Verse 5 is the strongest statement in the New Testament on salvation by faith. All four of the clauses makes the point:

• And to the one who does not work: does not rely on works at all
• But believes in him: believes, puts all faith, not works
• Who justifies the ungodly: God justifies ungodly people? YES!!! It's a good thing too, because we are ungodly people. Romans 1-3 so clear of that.
• His faith is counted as righteousness: God sees our transfer of faith and trust from ourselves to him and counts that as righteousness for us. God wipes out our sin and then gives us righteousness on top of that.

God says to you: "You can never save yourself. You can't remove sins. You cannot be perfect. Your only hope is a Savior." The Bible does not teach: faith plus works, faith plus good enough, faith plus churchianity, faith plus baptism, faith plus anything. It teaches through faith alone in Christ alone by grace alone.

Discussion Questions
1. What is faith? What does it require of us?
2. Have you completely transfered trust in yourself over to God? What are you still holding onto that you don't want to give up?
3. Discuss this quote in your group: "How is it possible for the righteous God to declare the unrighteous to be righteous without either compromising his righteousness or condoning their righteousness?"