Romans 4-6

Romans 4

 Abraham 

• Abraham was not justified by works
• Abraham “believed God”
• His faith was counted as righteousness
• Paul quotes:
  • Genesis 15:6
  • Psalm 32:2
• Righteousness is apart from works

Circumcision

• Abraham was declared righteous before circumcision
• Therefore he is father of all ( believing Jews and believing Gentiles)
• Circumcision was a sign ot the source of righteousness

Promise Through Faith

• Promise to Abraham did not come through the Law
• It came through faith
• If inheritance came through Law then faith would be empty
• Abraham becomes “father of many nations”

Abraham’s Faith

• Abraham hoped against hope –meaning he trusted God despite:
  • old age
  • Sarah’s barrenness
• He did not waver in unbelief
• His faith was counted as righteousness
• Applies to believers today
  • righteousness credited through faith in Christ

Romans 5

Since believers are justified by faith they have peace with God

• Believers:
  • stand in grace
  • rejoice in hope
• Suffering produces:
  • endurance which produces
  • character which produces
  • hope
• God’s love poured into hearts through the Holy Spirit

Christ Died for Sinners

• Christ died:
  • for the ungodly
  • while we were still sinners
• God demonstrates His love through the cross
• Believers are:
  • justified by His blood
  • reconciled to God

 Sin and Death Through Adam

• Sin entered through Adam
• Death spread to all humanity
• Death reigned even before the Law

Adam vs Christ

• Major comparison:
  • Adam brought sin and death
  • Christ brings grace and life
• Adam’s trespass/sin/offense leads to condemnation and death
  • However, Christ’s obedience gives us justification
• Grace abounds greater than sin

so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord

Romans 6

Paul asks “Should we continue in sin that grace may abound?”

• Answer “By no means!”
• Believers united with Christ in:
  • His death
  • His burial (through baptism)
  • His resurrection

 Alive in Christ

• Old self crucified with Christ
• Believers are no longer enslaved to sin
• Christ died once for sin
• Believers should:
  • consider themselves dead to sin
  • alive to God

 Do Not Let Sin Reign

• Do not present body parts to sin
• Present yourselves to God instead
• Sin no longer has dominion because believers are:
  • under grace
  • not under Law

Slaves of Righteousness

• Paul again rejects sinful living
  • Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means!
• Everyone serves a master:
  • sin
  • or righteousness

 Wages of Sin vs Gift of God

• Sin produces:
  • shame
  • death
• God produces:
  • sanctification
  • eternal life

“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” 

Application

Salvation comes through faith, not through our religious performance. Because Jesus was obedient, it reverses the curse of sin that entered through Adam.  HOWEVER,  grace should not encourage us to freely sin, we are no longer under sin’s control. We should live as those who are made alive in Christ!