Romans 4

"good credit, bad credit, no credit"

• when we hear this, we think of a sleazy care salesman
• what's the catch?
• the gospel can sound this way

all have sinned, and all are justified freely. Romans 3:23-24

Romans was written by a real guy, Paul, writing to real people. To a church in Rome. This church would have been made up of regular people. Jews and none-jews. They came with a controversial message: Jesus is king. For 5 years, the emperor's kicked the Jews out of the church. The gentiles take over for 5 years. Then the Jews come back after 5 years, and there's a lot of tension in the church.

The Jews start to enforce Jewish customs, kosher, circumcision, etc. this letter was read to the church by a lady named Phoebe.

This part would have gotten varied reactions:

Romans 3:28 NLT
[28] So we are made right with God through faith and not by obeying the law.
https://bible.com/bible/116/rom.3.28.NLT

Paul knows that Abraham and David are looked up to by the Jews. So he uses them to explain how we are justified by our faith.

Is simple faith actually all that's necessary?

Assume there's a heaven. What do you think the general requirements for admission are?

• the answers to this question often show that we don't agree with Paul
• "I hope I make it"
• "I'm trying my best"
• "I hope my good outweighs my bad"
• it seems logical and fair that good people go to heaven

Over half of church members believe that their good works will lead them to heaven. At funerals, we feel a pressure to make the deceased sound gooder than they were.

Somewhere along the way we convince ourselves that good people go to heaven.

Romans 4:1-5 NLT
[1] Abraham was, humanly speaking, the founder of our Jewish nation. What did he discover about being made right with God? [2] If his good deeds had made him acceptable to God, he would have had something to boast about. But that was not God’s way. [3] For the Scriptures tell us, “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.” [4] When people work, their wages are not a gift, but something they have earned. [5] But people are counted as righteous, not because of their work, but because of their faith in God who forgives sinners.
https://bible.com/bible/116/rom.4.1-5.NLT

NOTE: this passage does NOT say "Abraham believed in God". It says that he "believed God"

God comes to Abraham and picks him out before he has done anything to make him righteous before God.

If salvation is about good works, then we're not doing them for the love of God. We're doing them for ourselves. We want to build up our credit.

If it is about works, then how good is good enough? That scares us.

Hearing this message, the Jews would have been very upset that Paul is saying the new gentiles are on the exact same playing field as them.

Romans 4:9-10 NLT
[9] Now, is this blessing only for the Jews, or is it also for uncircumcised Gentiles? Well, we have been saying that Abraham was counted as righteous by God because of his faith. [10] But how did this happen? Was he counted as righteous only after he was circumcised, or was it before he was circumcised? Clearly, God accepted Abraham before he was circumcised!
https://bible.com/bible/116/rom.4.9-10.NLT

Abraham's righteousness was not a result of his circumcision. It came before. The circumcision was just a sign.

Romans 4:13-14 NLT
[13] Clearly, God’s promise to give the whole earth to Abraham and his descendants was based not on his obedience to God’s law, but on a right relationship with God that comes by faith. [14] If God’s promise is only for those who obey the law, then faith is not necessary and the promise is pointless.
https://bible.com/bible/116/rom.4.13-14.NLT

What's the object of this faith, actually?

What does it mean to have faith?

Romans 4:21-22 NLT
[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.
https://bible.com/bible/116/rom.4.21-22.NLT

Abraham rearranges his life based on what God said. God brings life forth out of two "sexually dead" bodies (Abraham and Sarah were very old when they had kids). God brings life from death.

Romans 4:23-24 NLT
[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.
https://bible.com/bible/116/rom.4.23-24.NLT

So the question is: Have I transferred my trust?

What's the benefits of this faith, actually?

Logizobai (sp?) means "to credit". This word is used 11 times in Romans 4. It is significant.

David has an impressive resume. But he also has skeletons in his closet.

Good people do not go to heaven. Forgiven people do.

Christianity is the only religion not based on works.

What does this faith look like, actually?

Romans 4:18-22 NLT
[18] 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.
https://bible.com/bible/116/rom.4.18-22.NLT

To be a a Christian means to stay in the seat of faith. That means that I die to me daily, so that Christ can live in me.

Obeying God is easy when I understand and agree with him. But obeying God is about having faith when I don't understand and don't agree.

The fulfillment of God's promises that Abraham will have children only takes 10 minutes to read, but it took Abraham 25 years (!!!) to live it.

When it's the hardest, we want to bail. But that's when we need to learn in most. Like riding the rapids.

James 1:2-4 NLT
[2] Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. [3] For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. [4] So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.
https://bible.com/bible/116/jas.1.2-4.NLT

Even Abraham was not perfectly faithful along the way. He lied about who his wife was twice. He slept with Hagar to try to rush things along. Mistakes will be made, even huge ones, but we need to continue to struggle forward in faith.