Welcome to Bible Chapter by Chapter. In this episode, we walk carefully through Romans Chapter 4, where Paul answers one of the most important questions in the entire Bible: How is a person made right with God?

After revealing in Romans 3 that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, Paul now turns to Abraham to prove that righteousness has never come through human effort, religious performance, or works of the law. From the very beginning, God has declared people righteous through faith.

Romans 4 is a powerful chapter because it shows that the gospel is not a new invention. Paul roots salvation by faith deep in the Old Testament and uses Abraham, the father of Israel, as his central example. If Abraham himself was counted righteous by believing God, then salvation has always rested on grace, not human achievement.

In this study, we explore:

Why Abraham could not boast before God

What it means that faith was credited as righteousness

The difference between wages and grace

Why David also speaks of righteousness apart from works

Why Abraham was declared righteous before circumcision

How Abraham became the father of all who believe

Why the promise comes through faith so it may rest on grace

What it means to believe against hope

How Abraham trusted God's promise when circumstances looked impossible

Why this was written not only for Abraham, but for us also

How Jesus was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification

Romans 4 reminds us that salvation is not built on human performance. It is built on trusting the God who keeps his promises. Abraham believed when the promise seemed impossible. He trusted the God who gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they were. That same faith points forward to us, as we believe in the God who raised Jesus from the dead.

This chapter is deeply encouraging because it shows that righteousness is not earned by the strong, the perfect, or the religiously impressive. It is credited to those who believe. That means the door is open to everyone who places their faith in Christ.

If you have ever asked:

Can I ever be good enough for God?

Has salvation always been by faith?

What does Abraham have to do with the gospel?

What does it mean to be justified apart from works?

Romans Chapter 4 gives a clear and beautiful answer.

Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6MnjQf5YAsxCAhha7jCSGD

Thank you for joining me for Season 5: The Power of the Gospel. Please like, subscribe, and share this study with someone walking through Romans.