John Wesley - A heart strangely warmed
Justification - in Christ we are forgiven and made righteous - Just as if I never sinned
Romans 4:1-15
1 What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, discovered in this matter? 2 If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about—but not before God. 3 What does Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”
4 Now to the one who works, wages are not credited as a gift but as an obligation. 5 However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness. 6 David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the one to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:
7 “Blessed are those
whose transgressions are forgiven,
whose sins are covered.
8 Blessed is the one
whose sin the Lord will never count against them.”
9 Is this blessedness only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? We have been saying that Abraham’s faith was credited to him as righteousness. 10 Under what circumstances was it credited? Was it after he was circumcised, or before? It was not after, but before! 11 And he received circumcision as a sign, a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. So then, he is the father of all who believe but have not been circumcised, in order that righteousness might be credited to them. 12 And he is then also the father of the circumcised who not only are circumcised but who also follow in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.
13 It was not through the law that Abraham and his offspring received the promise that he would be heir of the world, but through the righteousness that comes by faith. 14 For if those who depend on the law are heirs, faith means nothing and the promise is worthless, 15 because the law brings wrath. And where there is no law there is no transgression.
Abraham and David
Romans 4
16 Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring—not only to those who are of the law but also to those who have the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all. 17 As it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.” He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed—the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being things that were not.
What does Paul tell us about God?
1. He brings life to things that are dead.
--Ezekiel 37:1-14
2. He calls into existence things that do not exist.
3. He justifies the ungodly.
The creating God who is the resurrecting God is also the justifying God; this implies that justification is an act of new creation and resurrection… In a word, justification means life.
-Michael Gorman, Romans
What does Paul tell us about Abraham?
Romans 4
18 Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, “So shall your offspring be.”19 Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah’s womb was also dead. 20 Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, 21 being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.
Abraham was a man of radical hope.
Hagios - called to be saints - hope against all hope
Abraham believed in God who gives life to the dead.
Christians believe in God who raised Jesus from the dead.
Romans 4
22 This is why “it was credited to him as righteousness.” 23 The words “it was credited to him” were written not for him alone, 24 but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness—for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. 25 He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.
My prayer is that God would fill you with hope, that he would bring you back to life.
Communion
Small Group Questions:
Opening Question:
What is something in your life that once seemed hopeless but turned around in a surprising way?
Digging into Romans 4:
Read Romans 4:16-25. What stands out to you about Abraham’s faith?
How does Paul describe God’s power in this passage? How do Ezekiel 37:1-14 and the story of Abraham reinforce this?
Paul says that God "calls into existence things that do not exist" (Romans 4:17). What does this reveal about God's nature? How have you seen this in your life?
Abraham had "hope against all hope" (Romans 4:18). What does that phrase mean? How does that challenge our understanding of faith?
Paul emphasizes that God justifies the ungodly (Romans 4:5). Why is this such good news? How does this change the way we approach God?
Applying the Passage:
Where in your life do you need to trust God for resurrection and new creation?
How does believing in the God who raised Jesus from the dead give you hope today?
What practical steps can you take to live out radical hope like Abraham?
Closing Prayer:
Spend time praying for one another, asking God to strengthen your faith and give you hope in the areas that feel uncertain or dead.