Rom 4:1-9 NASB What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, has found? (2) For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. (3) For what does the Scripture say? “ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS.” (4) Now to the one who works, his wage is not credited as a favor, but as what is due. (5) But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness, (6) just as David also speaks of the blessing on the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works: (7) “BLESSED ARE THOSE WHOSE LAWLESS DEEDS HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN, AND WHOSE SINS HAVE BEEN COVERED. (8) “BLESSED IS THE MAN WHOSE SIN THE LORD WILL NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT.” (9) Is this blessing then on the circumcised, or on the uncircumcised also? For we say, “FAITH WAS CREDITED TO ABRAHAM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS.”

• Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness. (Gen 15:6) (Heb
  • The life of Abraham Genesis 11:10-25:18
    • The Covenant of God with Abram 12:1-25:18
      • Initiation of the Covenant 12:1-20
      • Separation to the Covenant 13:1-14:24
        • Abraham’s Separation from Lot 13:1-13
        • God’s Promise to Abraham 13:14-18
        • Abram rescues Lot 14:1-16
        • Abram refuses reward 14:17-24
      • Ratification of the Covenant 15:1-16:16
        • God’s promise of children & descendants 15:1-5
        • God credits righteousness to Abram 15:6
        • God ratifies the covenant 15:7-21
      • Institution of the Covenant: Circumcision 17:1-27
      • Testing of the Covenant 18:1-20:18
• What has happened so far with Abraham that God would see him as believing and deserving righteousness?
• What happened after God credit righteousness to Abraham in Chapter 15? If God credited to him righteousness before he executed the covenant with Abraham, what does that tell you about God and Abraham’s righteousness?
• What did Abraham believe in – God’s promise or God? What does that teach you?

Rom 4:10-17 GW How was his faith regarded as God’s approval? Was he circumcised or was he uncircumcised at that time? He had not been circumcised. (11) Abraham’s faith was regarded as God’s approval while he was still uncircumcised. The mark of circumcision is the seal of that approval. Therefore, he is the father of every believer who is not circumcised, and their faith, too, is regarded as God’s approval of them. (12) He is also the father of those who not only are circumcised but also are following in the footsteps of his faith. Our father Abraham had that faith before he was circumcised. (13) So it was not by obeying Moses’ Teachings that Abraham or his descendants received the promise that he would inherit the world. Rather, it was through God’s approval of his faith. (14) If those who obey Moses’ Teachings are the heirs, then faith is useless and the promise is worthless. (15) The laws in Moses’ Teachings bring about anger. But where laws don’t exist, they can’t be broken. (16) Therefore, the promise is based on faith so that it can be a gift. Consequently, the promise is guaranteed for every descendant, not only for those who are descendants by obeying Moses’ Teachings but also for those who are descendants by believing as Abraham did. He is the father of all of us, (17) as Scripture says: “I have made you a father of many nations.” Abraham believed when he stood in the presence of the God who gives life to dead people and calls into existence things that don’t even exist.

• If God’s blessing of righteousness is given to the uncircumcised, what does that mean to Christians?
• What gives those who are not physically born of Abraham access to God’s covenant?
• How is the judgment of Jesus’ healing on the sabbath like God’s faithfulness and circumcision? (John 7:16-24)
• Why is faith useless of those who obey the Law would inherit the world? (Eph 2:8)
• What/Who did Abraham believe in?

Rom 4:18-25 NLT Even when there was no reason for hope, Abraham kept hoping—believing that he would become the father of many nations. For God had said to him, “That’s how many descendants you will have!” (19) And Abraham’s faith did not weaken, even though, at about 100 years of age, he figured his body was as good as dead—and so was Sarah’s womb. (20) Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God. (21) He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever He promises. (22) And because of Abraham’s faith, God counted him as righteous. (23) And when God counted him as righteous, it wasn’t just for Abraham’s benefit. It was recorded (24) for our benefit, too, assuring us that God will also count us as righteous if we believe in Him, the One who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. (25) He was handed over to die because of our sins, and He was raised to life to make us right with God.

• What about Abraham’s decision to proceed with his own plan for having a son? Didn’t that change God’s view of Abraham? (Gen 16:1-4, 11-12, Gen 21:12-13)
• What does this reveal to you about God?
• Was it Abraham’s deeds that determined his righteousness in God’s sight?
• What does this mean to you and your relationship with God?

REFERENCE

Gen 15:1-21 NASB  After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Do not fear, Abram, I am a shield to you; Your reward shall be very great.”  (2)  Abram said, “O Lord GOD, what will You give me, since I am childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?”  (3)  And Abram said, “Since You have given no offspring to me, one born in my house is my heir.”  (4)  Then behold, the word of the LORD came to him, saying, “This man will not be your heir; but one who will come forth from your own body, he shall be your heir.”  (5)  And He took him outside and said, “Now look toward the heavens, and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be.”  (6)  Then he believed in the LORD; and He reckoned it to him as righteousness.  (7)  And He said to him, “I am the LORD who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans, to give you this land to possess it.”  (8)  He said, “O Lord GOD, how may I know that I will possess it?”  (9)  So He said to him, “Bring Me a three year old heifer, and a three year old female goat, and a three year old ram, and a turtledove, and a young pigeon.”  (10)  Then he brought all these to Him and cut them in two, and laid each half opposite the other; but he did not cut the birds.  (11)  The birds of prey came down upon the carcasses, and Abram drove them away.  (12)  Now when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and behold, terror and great darkness fell upon him.  (13)  God said to Abram, “Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, where they will be enslaved and oppressed four hundred years.  (14)  “But I will also judge the nation whom they will serve, and afterward they will come out with many possessions.  (15)  “As for you, you shall go to your fathers in peace; you will be buried at a good old age.  (16)  “Then in the fourth generation they will return here, for the iniquity of the Amorite is not yet complete.”  (17)  It came about when the sun had set, that it was very dark, and behold, there appeared a smoking oven and a flaming torch which passed between these pieces.  (18)  On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, “To your descendants I have given this land, From the river of Egypt as far as the great river, the river Euphrates:  (19)  the Kenite and the Kenizzite and the Kadmonite  (20)  and the Hittite and the Perizzite and the Rephaim  (21)  and the Amorite and the Canaanite and the Girgashite and the Jebusite.”

Gal 3:6-9 NASB Even so Abraham BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS RECKONED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS. (7) Therefore, be sure that it is those who are of faith who are sons of Abraham. (8) The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “ALL THE NATIONS WILL BE BLESSED IN YOU.” (9) So then those who are of faith are blessed with Abraham, the believer.

Joh 7:16-24 GW Jesus responded to them, “What I teach doesn’t come from me but from the one who sent me. (17) Those who want to follow the will of God will know if what I teach is from God or if I teach my own thoughts. (18) Those who speak their own thoughts are looking for their own glory. But the man who wants to bring glory to the one who sent him is a true teacher and doesn’t have dishonest motives. (19) Didn’t Moses give you his teachings? Yet, none of you does what Moses taught you. So why do you want to kill me?” (20) The crowd answered, “You’re possessed by a demon! Who wants to kill you?” (21) Jesus answered them, “I performed one miracle, and all of you are surprised by it. (22) Moses gave you the teaching about circumcision (although it didn’t come from Moses but from our ancestors). So you circumcise a male on a day of worship. (23) If you circumcise a male on the day of worship to follow Moses’ Teachings, why are you angry with me because I made a man entirely well on the day of worship? (24) Stop judging by outward appearance! Instead, judge correctly.”

Eph 2:8-9 NASB For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; (9) not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Gen 16:1-4, 11-12 NASB Now Sarai, Abram’s wife had borne him no children, and she had an Egyptian maid whose name was Hagar. (2) So Sarai said to Abram, “Now behold, the LORD has prevented me from bearing children. Please go in to my maid; perhaps I will obtain children through her.” And Abram listened to the voice of Sarai. (3) After Abram had lived ten years in the land of Canaan, Abram’s wife Sarai took Hagar the Egyptian, her maid, and gave her to her husband Abram as his wife. (4) He went in to Hagar, and she conceived; and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her sight. (11) The angel of the LORD said to her further, “Behold, you are with child, And you will bear a son; And you shall call his name Ishmael, Because the LORD has given heed to your affliction. (12) “He will be a wild donkey of a man, His hand will be against everyone, And everyone’s hand will be against him; And he will live to the east of all his brothers.”

Gen 21:12-13 NASB But God said to Abraham, “Do not be distressed because of the lad and your maid; whatever Sarah tells you, listen to her, for through Isaac your descendants shall be named. (13) “And of the son of the maid I will make a nation also, because he is your descendant.”