Romans - Week 9

Father of the Faithful

READ

Romans 4:11-12

11 Circumcision was a sign that Abraham already had faith and that God had already accepted him and declared him to be righteous—even before he was circumcised. So Abraham is the spiritual father of those who have faith but have not been circumcised. They are counted as righteous because of their faith. 12 And Abraham is also the spiritual father of those who have been circumcised, but only if they have the same kind of faith Abraham had before he was circumcised.

Paul indicated that Abraham’s circumcision was not part of his becoming right with God; that had already occurred when he placed his faith in God. He had already been declared righteous before the rite of circumcision was given. Paul pointed out that what makes Abraham the spiritual father of both Jew and Gentile is if they have faith, not whether they have been circumcised. This should have made clear to the Jewish people that none of their religious rituals took the place of faith in becoming right with God.

REFLECT

Does this help you to appreciate that whatever you have done that is symbolic of your faith, nothing is a substitute for faith to be right with God?

RESPOND

Talk with your disciple about what he and you have done that is symbolic of your faith. Then focus on what Paul said that nothing can be a substitute for faith in becoming right with God.

A Right Relationship

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Romans 4:13-15

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. 15 For the law always brings punishment on those who try to obey it. (The only way to avoid breaking the law is to have no law to break!)

Paul often emphasized “to the Jew first” (see Romans 2:8-10), both in judgment and blessing. He stresses in this passage that God’s blessing is not just for those who have the law. In addition, Paul points out that those who take pride in the law need to remember that “the law always brings punishment on those who try to obey it.” Imagine such a statement. Paul had been a practicing Pharisee before his conversion, so he knew the consequences of trying to obey the law.

REFLECT

Have you learned that if you seek to obey a set of regulations to prove your spirituality that you always fail to some extent? This is what Paul was saying.

RESPOND

Paul referred to God’s promise to Abraham (then known as Abram) and his descendants. Read Genesis 12:1-3 for this covenantal agreement and 15:9-21 to see the ritual that further confirmed the agreement with more details.

Faith Like Abraham's

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Romans 4:16-17

16 So the promise is received by faith. It is given as a free gift. And we are all certain to receive it, whether or not we live according to the law of Moses, if we have faith like Abraham’s. For Abraham is the father of all who believe. 17 That is what the Scriptures mean when God told him, “I have made you the father of many nations.” This happened because Abraham believed in the God who brings the dead back to life and who creates new things out of nothing.

Paul knew from his own experience that the law and good works could not bring salvation. He had rejected that false way of trying to become right with God and had been saved by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. The Jews looked to Abraham as their father, but Paul stresses he is the father of “all who believe.”  Paul refers to Genesis 17:5 that records God’s change of Abram’s name to Abraham and says he will be the father of many nations. The reference to God bringing the dead back to life likely refers to what follows in the next few verses about the deadness of Abraham and Sarah’s ability to bear a child. Yet God had promised Abraham would be the father of many nations.

REFLECT Do you not marvel at all a miracle-working God can do? Not only can He save all who believe but He could also make everlasting promises to Abraham.

RESPOND

Read Genesis 17:7-8 where God tells of the everlasting covenant He made with Abraham. Through Abraham and his descendants, God wanted to bless the entire world.

Father of Many Nations

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Romans 4:18-19

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.

Abraham and Sarah were beyond the child-bearing age, but God promised Abraham he would be the father of many nations. In spite of the seeming impossibility, Abraham’s faith did not weaken because he took God at His word. He kept hoping and trusting God that he would become the patriarch of the promised nations.

REFLECT

Have you been in situations where there was no reason for hope? What helped you turn to God at those difficult times?

RESPOND

Do you believe God can bring life from the dead? That was true for Abraham and Sarah whose bodies were as good as dead with regard to childbearing. It is also the great truth about the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. With your disciple, thank the Lord that, if He wishes to, God is able to bring life from the dead.

 Fully Convinced

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Romans 4:20-22

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.

Abraham brought glory to God as he grew stronger in his faith. It is difficult to explain what faith is, but verse 21 expresses it well. It is simply believing that what God promises He has the ability to accomplish. Abraham was persuaded of this and as a result God counted him as righteous. Had Abraham not taken God at His word, he would not have brought glory to God nor be counted as righteous.

REFLECT

Does this passage help your resolve to be more faithful in taking God at His word? Doing so brings glory to Him.

RESPOND

The 23^rd Psalm is a favorite of many believers. It has only six verses. Read these verses with your disciple and discuss how you can do more to believe God’s promises.