ABRAHAM and JUSTIFICATION.
(Romans 4:1-25)

1. WHAT IT MEANT FOR ABRAHAM TO BE JUSTIFIED (4:1-8).
a. IT MEANT HIS SINS WERE NOT IMPUTED TO HIM.

Rom. 4:7,8 "to whom the Lord will not impute sin"
2 Cor. 5:19 "not imputing their trepasses unto them"
b. IT MEANT GOD'S RIGHTEOUSNESS WAS IMPUTED TO HIM.

Rom. 4:1-3 "it (faith) was counted...for righteousness"
Rom. 4:6 "unto whom God imputeth righteousness"
(For imputation, see Philm. 17,18 and Scofield note.)

2. HOW ABRAHAM WAS NOT JUSTIFIED (4: 9-15).

a. IT WAS NOT BY CIRCUMCISION (v. 9-12).

Rom. 4:9, 10 "How was it then reckoned?... in uncircumcision"
He was circumcised because he had been justified (v. 11).

b. IT WAS NOT BY THE LAW (v. 13-15).

Rom. 4:13 "not.. .through the law, but through.. .faith"

3. HOW ABRAHAM WAS" JUSTIFIED (4:16-18).
a. IT WAS BY FAITH.

Rom. 4:16 "therefore it is of faith"
b. IT WAS BY FAITH IN GOD.

Rom. 4:17 "Him whom he believed, even GOD"
Reason said, "Impossible!" Sarah laughed, "Foolishness."
Not heeding these, "Abraham believed GOD" (v. 3).
c. IT WAS BY FAITH IN GOD'S WORD.

Rom. 4:18 "that which was spoken"
d. IT WAS BY FAITH IN GOD'S WORD CONCERNING CHRIST.

Rom. 4:18 "that which was spoken. So shall they seed be"
This message referred also to Christ (Gal. 3:16) Did not
Abraham believe God long before this? When he left Ur?
and Haran? Yes, but God did not declare him JUSTIFIED
until his faith touched His promise of CHRIST.

Our faith must be faith in Christ. Acts 16:31.

4. HOW ABRAHAM KNEW HE WAS JUSTIFIED (4:19-22).

a. HE REFUSED TO BE SHAKEN BY CIRCUMSTANCES.

Rom. 4:19,20 "he considered not his own body" 2 Cor. 1:9.

b. HE RECOGNIZED THE FAITHFULNESS AND ABILITY OF GOD.

Rom. 4:20-22 "being fully persuaded...He (God) was able"
We also know that we are justified because of God's Word.

5. WHAT ABRAHAM TEACHES US ABOUT JUSTIFICATION (4:23-25).

Rom. 4:23,24 "not...for his sake alone...but for us also"
a. GOD WILL DO THE SAME FOR US.

Rom. 4:24 "to whom it shall be imputed"
b. IF WE DO THE SAME AS ABRAHAM.

Rom. 4:24 "if we believe on Him that raised up Jesus"
c. ASSURANCE IS PROVIDED FOR US.

Rom. 4:25 "raised...for our justification" (Scofield note)