Righteous by Faith: Abraham (Romans 3:27-4:25)

Romans 3:27-31

Romans 3:20 “…through the law comes knowledge of sin.”

Romans 4:1-25
Romans 4:4-5
Our faith is credited to us as righteousness.
Ephesians 2:10
Our faith is credited to us as righteousness.
Romans 4:16
Our faith is credited to us as righteousness.
Romans 4:23-25
Our faith is credited to us as righteousness.

Four practical things we can take away from the example of Abraham:

Romans 4:20-21

Hebrews 10:23
Hebrews 11

Faith is unwavering. Be steadfast in your faith.

Faith can be strengthened. Build up your faith muscles.

Faith brings glory to God. Greater faith brings greater glory.

Faith is confident in Him. Be assured that God will come through.

The Just and The Justifier (Romans 3:21-26)

Romans 3:19
Romans 3:20
Justice (dikaioo) means “to be declared just or righteous (in right standing).”
Romans 3:21-26 (reference)
Romans 3:21-22a
Romans 3:22b-23
Once we realize we’re all in the same sinking ship, we’ll see that we all need rescuing.
Romans 3:24-25a
Grace (charis) means “kindness, grace, favor.”
Redemption (polutrósis) means “a release, effected by payment of ransom.”
Propitiation (hilastérion) means “to win or regain favor by doing something that pleases someone.”
Isaiah 53:5
Romans 3:24-25a
Romans 3:25b-26
God is both just, AND the justifier.
Romans 3:26


In order for God to be just and true He had to satisfy every requirement of the very law He gave.

Matthew 5:17-18

In order for God to be just and true He had to satisfy every requirement of the very law He gave. (add next line) He did so in Jesus.

The Problem with Religious Identity (Romans 3:1-20)


Religious identity is about relying on heritage and history for salvation, rather than having genuine faith in Christ.

Romans 2:17

Romans 2:25

Romans 2:28-29

The problem with Religious Identity is that it creates a false sense of entitlement that prevents someone from turning to Jesus.

Romans 3:1-4

Psalm 51:3-4

Romans 3:5-8

Romans 2:4-5

Romans 3:9-18

Psalm 14:7 (or 53:6) *incorrect verse numbers are referenced

Isaiah 59:20

Romans 2:19-20

Summary: religious identity (history and heritage) can’t save anyone. Only faith in Jesus can accomplish that.

Some churches/denominations genuinely believe they are the only ones going to heaven.

Some people cling to their Christian religious identity despite not having any real relationship with Jesus.

Help them see that religious identity (relying on history and heritage) can’t save anyone. Only Jesus can.

The Problem with Self-Righteousness (Romans 2:12-29)

Self-effort is pursuing righteousness by trying hard to observe the right rules, regulations and rituals.
Romans 2:12
Romans 2:13
James 2:10-11
Romans 2:14-16
Romans 2:17-20
Romans 2:21-24
Romans 2:25-27

The Problem with Self-Effort: Keeping all the rules is seen as the way to get into heaven. But even when we fail to keep them, we still expect to receive a good judgement from God in the end.
There is almost always a loophole: something else we can DO to make us right when we fail to follow the other rules.
Romans 2:28-29

Summary: Salvation can’t be attained by self-effort. It’s only possible through Jesus. It’s an issue of the heart. It’s a matter of the Spirit.

Matthew 5:17-20
When it comes to reaching others, help them see how exhausting and futile self-effort really is.