Paul's Gospel: Look back from week 3 (Romans 4 part 2)

The Gospel According to Paul: Romans 4:13-25

Study Questions:

I. Faith and Law are bookends of God’s righteousness. (vs. 13-19)

               1. In order to uphold God’s righteousness, the law must bring God’s  __________ . (vs. 15)

               2. The power of the law comes not in justifying sinners but in ______________  them.

               3. In order to uphold God’s righteousness, faith brings in God’s ___________ .

               4. Abraham became ‘heir of the world’ through righteousness brought about by _________ . (vs. 13)

*Point to learn: Both faith and the law are effective for upholding the righteousness of God.  However man is not able to justify himself through the law, since through the law comes only the knowledge of sin and therefor God’s wrath.  Man becomes righteous the same way Abraham did – not by doing anything but by faith. 

Word bank: Grace; Wrath; Faith; Condemning

II. Faith and Law are not compatible when receiving God’s righteousness.  (vs. 13-19)

               1. According to Paul’s argument in chapters 3-4, the law is not inherently a _______ thing. (3:31)

               2. Good works, then, is the ______ of our righteousness before God, not a means to it.

               3. The law is effective in that it serves its purpose of giving us a ______________ of our sin. (vs. 15)

               4. According to verses 16-17, our salvation depends on _________ . (vs. 16-17)

*Point to learn: Because God’s salvation rests on His grace, it can be guaranteed to all who have faith in His atoning sacrifice (Jesus).  The law can only accomplish that which it is good for – bringing about knowledge of sin, which leads to God’s wrath.  Faith, on the other hand, accomplishes that which it is good for – bringing about the righteousness of God by accrediting it to our accounts.

Word bank: Bad; Knowledge; Fruit; Faith.

III. Three dynamics of true faith. (vs. 20-25)

               1. God is our _____________ .  God’s promise is sure and immovable, even in the face of doubt, sin, and the ever changing world. (vs. 20)

               2. God is our _____________ .  When we are fully persuaded of His promise, God becomes our fuel for the fire instead of reacting to our circumstances and trials.  (vs. 21)

               3. God is our ______________ .  Jesus Christ, God’s Son, was crucified for our trespasses and resurrected to ensure our justification.  (vs. 22-25)

*Point to learn: God doesn’t have everything we need; He is everything we need.  To know God is to know life; to hope in God is to have true hope; to live in Christ is to have life itself.

Word Bank: Motivation; Foundation; Salvation