Faith or Wrath (Romans 4:13–25)

Big Idea: God secures Abraham’s promised inheritance by faith according to grace, not by law. The law exposes sin and brings wrath; faith rests in God’s promise—confirmed by Christ’s resurrection for our justification.

Key Quote: “He was fully convinced that what God had promised He was also able to perform.” (Rom 4:21)

We unpack Paul’s argument that the promise to Abraham (and to all who share his faith) comes through the righteousness of faith, not through works of the law. The law can only reveal our sin and summon wrath; grace gives what law cannot—assurance. Abraham believed against all odds because the object of his faith was the God who “gives life to the dead.” Paul lands the plane with the gospel’s heartbeat: Jesus was “delivered up for our offenses and raised for our justification.” Forgiveness and righteousness are both ours in Christ.

• Faith or Wrath (vv. 13–15): If inheritance were by law, faith would be void. The law exposes sin and brings wrath.

• What Is Sin? (v. 15b): Sin = lack of conformity to or transgression of God’s law (omission & commission). Sin is personal—against the Lawgiver.

• According to Grace (vv. 16–18): Justification is by faith so that it rests on grace—this produces assurance and extends to “many nations.”

• Not a Blind Leap (vv. 19–20): Abraham faced the facts but trusted the Promise-Maker; faith is reasonable confidence in God’s character.

• Fully Convinced (v. 21): Mature faith = settled confidence that God performs what He promises.

• Raised for Our Justification (vv. 24–25): Double imputation: our guilt to Christ; His righteousness to us. The resurrection is the Father’s public acceptance of the payment—our justification is secure.