Romans is one of the most powerful books in the entire Bible. Theologically, it's Paul's magnum opus, containing some of the most foundational aspects of Christian faith. As we dive into chapters 4-6, we encounter profound truths about justification, faith, and our new life in Christ.
To download our study guide for Romans 4-6, click here.
Abraham: Our Father of Faith
What does it mean when we call Abraham our father of faith? This goes back to Genesis 15, where Abraham becomes recognized as the father of our faith, 430 years before God gave Moses the law. When I look at Romans 4, I see Paul carefully explaining how Abraham was justified not by works, but by faith.
"If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about—but not before God" (Romans 4:2). This introduces a crucial concept: justification. This isn't just about forgiveness or pardoning, it's about God crediting righteousness to our spiritual account. Think about checking your bank account and finding an extra $15,000 deposited. That's what justification is spiritually: God adding righteousness to our account.
Scripture tells us, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness" (Romans 4:3). This wasn't about Abraham earning his way to God through good works. It was about trust. As Paul explains, "Now to the one who works, wages are not credited as a gift but as an obligation. However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness" (Romans 4:4-5).
The Timing of Faith
Paul makes a fascinating point about when Abraham received this righteousness. Was it after he was circumcised, proving his faithfulness? No! "It was not after, but before!" This is crucial because it shows that Abraham received righteousness the moment he believed, before any works of obedience. The physical act of circumcision came later as a sign, a seal of the righteousness he already had through faith.
This teaches me that I don't have to earn blessings through endless works. That path leads to burnout and obligation rather than grace. Instead, righteousness is credited to us through faith, just as it was with Abraham. "He received circumcision as a sign, a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised" (Romans 4:11).
The Most Inclusive Exclusive Invitation
What I love about this passage is how Paul addresses both Jews and Gentiles. He's saying that Abraham is "the father of all who believe but have not been circumcised" and also "the father of the circumcised who not only are circumcised but who also follow in the footsteps of the faith" (Romans 4:11-12). This is what I call the most inclusive exclusive invitation ever given: "whosoever will." No matter who you are or where you come from, there's an opportunity to be justified through faith.
Faith Against All Hope
When God promised Abraham he would be the father of many nations, the situation seemed impossible. He was about 100 years old, and Sarah's womb was considered dead. But look at what Scripture says: "Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed" (Romans 4:18). Without weakening in his faith, he faced the facts of his situation but still trusted God's promise.
This is where we often struggle today. We live in a world demanding proof and evidence, saying "show me first, then I'll believe." But that's not how faith works. Hebrews tells us that "faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Faith itself is the substance and evidence. You don't get evidence and then have faith - you have faith first.
The Power of God's Promise
What's remarkable about Abraham's faith is that he was "fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised" (Romans 4:21). This wasn't blind optimism - it was conviction based on God's character. And Paul tells us these words weren't written just for Abraham's sake, but for us too. We who believe in the God who raised Jesus from the dead receive the same credit of righteousness (Romans 4:23-24).
From Death to Life
Moving into Romans 5, we see the beautiful results of this justification: "Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" (Romans 5:1). This peace (eirene in Greek) means tranquility and harmony with God. Through Christ, we've gained access into this grace in which we now stand, and we can boast in the hope of God's glory.
What's remarkable is the timing of Christ's sacrifice. "You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly" (Romans 5:6). Paul emphasizes that while someone might possibly die for a righteous person, "God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8).
Rejoicing in Sufferings
Here's where it gets challenging but beautiful. Paul says we "glory in our sufferings" (Romans 5:3). Why? Because suffering produces perseverance, which produces character, which produces hope. It's like building muscle. You can't do it without resistance.
When you're at the gym doing proper repetitions, you need resistance both on the way up and down to build strength. You have to lean into the resistance, creating as much tension as possible because you know it leads to growth. Similarly, when we face resistance in our faith journey, it's building our spiritual muscles. Each time we persevere through difficulty, trusting God despite circumstances, we grow stronger.
Think about it. You can't build spiritual muscle without resistance either. When the enemy pushes back against us, when we face trials and challenges, these are opportunities for growth. The next time God calls us to lift a heavy load, we might surprise ourselves with how much stronger we've become through previous challenges.
Dead to Sin, Alive in Christ
As we move into Romans 6, we encounter a powerful truth: we are dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. This isn't just about trying to avoid sin; it's about considering ourselves dead to it entirely. The Greek word used here, logizomai, is an accounting term meaning to "reckon" or "count as true." Just as you wouldn't have to "feel" rich if a billionaire wired you money, you'd simply check your account and know it's true, we must reckon ourselves dead to sin regardless of feelings.
Just as a freed prisoner might still act like they're in jail, waking up at the same times, waiting for permission to eat, many believers live as if they're still enslaved to sin when they've been set free. Romans 6 calls us to embrace our true identity in Christ. We're called to "present ourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life" (Romans 6:13).
Living Under Grace
Paul makes a radical shift in Romans 6:14 - we don't fight sin by law-keeping but by living under grace. Under law focuses on rules, effort, and self-reliance. Under grace focuses on identity, surrender, and God's empowerment. It's like the difference between a child who obeys their parents out of love versus a slave obeying out of fear.
Conclusion
The message of Romans 4-6 is clear: we are justified by faith, not works. This faith gives us peace with God, purpose in our sufferings, and freedom from sin's power. As Paul emphasizes, if God reconciled us while we were His enemies, how much more will He do for us now that we're His children?
Whether you're struggling with legalism, facing difficult circumstances, or fighting old patterns of sin, remember: you stand in grace. You can boast in hope. And most importantly, you are justified not by your works, but by faith in the One who calls things that are not as though they were. Every challenge you face is an opportunity for growth, every resistance a chance to build spiritual muscle, and every moment an invitation to live in the freedom Christ has won for you.
