{"id":11762,"date":"2026-05-11T13:10:13","date_gmt":"2026-05-11T18:10:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/truthrightlydivided.ca\/?page_id=11762"},"modified":"2026-05-12T10:20:31","modified_gmt":"2026-05-12T15:20:31","slug":"romans-41-12","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/truthrightlydivided.ca\/wp2\/romans-41-12\/","title":{"rendered":"Romans 4:1-12"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

NGH BIBLE STUDY \u2013 ROMANS \u2013 OUTLINE #8<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Picture of Abraham\u2019s Faith (Romans 4:1-12)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

To prove his point that Justification is through faith, now works, Paul draws on two old testament examples in these 12 verses to demonstrate that even in the Old Testament, righteousness was never imparted based on works. He speaks of Abraham in verses Rom 4:1-2,3-4,5 and shows that Abraham\u2019s righteousness was based on the fact that he \u201cbelieved God\u201d. Then he quotes David\u2019s writings in verses Rom 4:7-8 to describe the blessedness of the man who enjoyed forgiveness and atonement, and one to whom the Lord would not impute iniquity. In the last part of this section from verses Rom 4:9-10,11,12 he points out that Abraham\u2019s reckoning of righteousness predated his circumcision \u2013 demonstrating that righteousness did not come from that ceremonial act.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Outline<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rom 4:1-2,3-4,5 \u2013 Abraham was not justified by works \u2013 he believed God and was reckoned righteous<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00b7 Paul points to scripture \u2013 not tradition \u2013 he quotes Genesis 15:6 \u201cHe believed in the Lord and he counted it to him for righteousness\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00b7 Introduces the concept of \u201creckoning\u201d or \u201caccounting\u201d \u2013 righteousness is \u201ccredited\u201d or \u201creckoned\u201d to an individual on the basis of faith<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rom 4:6-8 \u2013 David describes the blessedness of forgiveness<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00b7 David is quoted as a man who was immensely grateful that he didn\u2019t stand on works \u2013 the quotation is from Psalm 32:1-2 \u2013 one of two Psalms (along with Psalm 51) giving us insight of David\u2019s experience of restoration after his terrible sin with Bathsheba.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rom 4:9-10,11,12 \u2013 Abraham was Justified BEFORE circumcision<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00b7 Paul is careful to point out that Abraham was declared righteous (in Genesis 15) prior to circumcision being introduced (in Genesis 17). Circumcision was the SIGN of what had already taken place \u2013 not the SOURCE of righteousness with God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Key Points\/Questions for Discussion<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  1. Verses Rom 4:4-5 make a clear distinction between \u201cworking, wages or debt\u201d on the one hand and \u201cgrace and faith\u201d on the other hand. How is this principle important in light of the NT teaching of salvation? Is this only applicable to the original basis on which we were saved? Or is the principle equally valid in terms of how we live our Christian lives?<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Why would Paul use Abraham and David as examples to make his point? Is the basis of salvation (righteousness with God) the same in the OT and NT or different?<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. The quotation from Psalm 32 talks about the blessedness that comes from forgiveness. It lists three elements of forgiveness \u2013 sins being forgiven, sins being covered (a provision is made for them), and sins are not counted to the individual. Are all three aspects of forgiveness still applicable in our understanding of salvation today?<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. The Lord tells a parable in Luke 7:41-42,43 about two people with debts to a master who were forgiven \u2013 one a relatively small debt and one an overwhelmingly large debt \u2013 and the Lord asks the question \u201cwho would love him more\u201d? Simon correctly answers \u201cthe one who had the bigger debt forgiven\u201d \u2013 and the Lord says he answers correctly. How does this parable relate to the truth of Psalm 32. How can\/should it relate to each of us?<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. The final section deals with the danger of having a \u201csymbol\u201d of something become more significant in our thinking and practice than the substance behind it. Are there examples of ways in which this danger can be manifest in our behaviour today?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    NGH BIBLE STUDY \u2013 ROMANS \u2013 OUTLINE #8 The Picture of Abraham\u2019s Faith (Romans 4:1-12) To prove his point that Justification is through faith, now works, Paul draws on two old testament examples in these 12 verses to demonstrate that even in the Old Testament, righteousness was never imparted based on works. He speaks of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-11762","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"\nRomans 4:1-12 - Truth Rightly Divided<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/truthrightlydivided.ca\/wp2\/romans-41-12\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Romans 4:1-12 - Truth Rightly Divided\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"NGH BIBLE STUDY \u2013 ROMANS \u2013 OUTLINE #8 The Picture of Abraham\u2019s Faith (Romans 4:1-12) To prove his point that Justification is through faith, now works, Paul draws on two old testament examples in these 12 verses to demonstrate that even in the Old Testament, righteousness was never imparted based on works. 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