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Minnetonka

Monday

Evening

Bib le St udy

The Apost le

Paul s Let t er t ot he Rom ans

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What then shall we say? Have we found Abraham to be

our forefather according to the flesh? 2 For if Abraham

was declared righteous from deeds he has a ground forboasting, but not with God. 3 For what does Scripture

say? Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned tohim for righteousness. 4 But to the one who works, thewage is not reckoned according to grace butaccording to debt. 5 But to the one who does not work

but believes upon him who declares the ungodly to be

righteous, that ones faith is reckoned for

righteousness, 6just as also David says concerning the

blessing of the man to whom God reckons

righteousness apart from deeds. 7 Blessed are thosewhose Lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins arecovered. 8 Blessed is the man whose sins the Lord willnot reckon against him.

Romans 4:1-8

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Romans 4:1-25The Pattern ofJustification:

Abraham & His Children

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Romans 4 in Context The Ground of Justification: Jesus Christ's

Faithfulness (3:21-31). Jesus Christs FaithfulnessThe Justification of God (3:21-

26). Jesus Christs FaithfulnessThe Justification of the Law

(3:27-31).

The Pattern of Justification: Abraham and His Children

(4:1-25). What Kind of Descendant from Abraham does Godthe Righteous Judge Justify: One of the Law or Oneof Faithfulness? (4:1-8).

When did God the Righteous Judge Justify

Abraham: Before or After Abraham wasCircumcised? (4:9-12). Who are Heirs of the Promise made by God the

Righteous Judge: Those of the Law or Those ofFaithfulness? (4:13-25).

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Interpretive DecisionNecessary

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What then shall we say thatAbraham, our forefather,discovered in this matter?

(NIV)

What then shall we say?Have we found Abraham to

be our forefather accordingto the flesh?

(CPV)

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Uses of the same questionthroughout Romans

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Romans 4:1 T i v o u \ n e jr o u me n e u jr h k e v/n a i jA b r a a ;m t o ;n p r o p a v/t o r a h Jmwn k a t a ;s a /r k a v;

What then are we to say was gained by Abraham, our ancestor according tothe flesh? (NIV)

Romans 6:1 T i vo u \ n e jr o u me n ;What then are we to say? Should we continue in sin in order that grace mayabound?

Romans 7:7 T i v o u \ n e jr o u me n ;

What then should we say? That the law is sin? By no means! Yet, if it had notbeen for the law, I would not have known sin. I would not have known what it isto covet if the law had not said, "You shall not covet.

Romans 8:31 T i vo u \ n e jr o u me n p r o ;~ t a u t a ;What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is againstus?

Romans 9:14 T i vo u \ n e jr o u me n ;What then are we to say? Is there injustice on God's part? By no means!

Romans 9:30 T i v o u \ n e jr o u me n ;What then are we to say? Gentiles, who did not strive for righteousness, have

attained it, that is, righteousness through faith;

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Romans 4:1 T i v o u \ n e jr o u me n ; e u jr h k e v/n a i jA b r a a ;m t o ;n p r o p a v/t o r a h Jmwn k a t a ;s a /r k a v;

What then are we to say? Have we found Abraham to be our forefatheraccording to the flesh? (CPV)

Romans 6:1 T i vo u \ n e jr o u me n ;What then are we to say? Should we continue in sin in order that grace mayabound?

Romans 7:7 T i v o u \ n e jr o u me n ;

What then should we say? That the law is sin? By no means! Yet, if it had notbeen for the law, I would not have known sin. I would not have known what it isto covet if the law had not said, "You shall not covet.

Romans 8:31 T i vo u \ n e jr o u me n p r o ;~ t a u t a ;What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is againstus?

Romans 9:14 T i vo u \ n e jr o u me n ;What then are we to say? Is there injustice on God's part? By no means!

Romans 9:30 T i v o u \ n e jr o u me n ;What then are we to say? Gentiles, who did not strive for righteousness, have

attained it, that is, righteousness through faith;

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Interpretive DecisionNecessary

Recognizing that Paul is asking two questionsrather than one, as the NIV and othermodern translations represent the text,

preserves a greater link with what precedesand follows.

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What Kind of Descendantfrom Abraham does God the

Righteous Judge Justify:One of the Law or One ofFaithfulness?

(4:1-8)

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What then shall we say? Have we found Abraham to be

our forefather according to the flesh? 2 For if Abraham

was declared righteous from deeds he has a ground forboasting, but not with God. 3 For what does Scripture

say? Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned tohim for righteousness. 4 But to the one who works, thewage is not reckoned according to grace butaccording to debt. 5 But to the one who does not work

but believes upon him who declares the ungodly to be

righteous, that ones faith is reckoned for

righteousness, 6just as also David says concerning the

blessing of the man to whom God reckons

righteousness apart from deeds. 7 Blessed are thosewhose Lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins arecovered. 8 Blessed is the man whose sins the Lord willnot reckon against him.

Romans 4:1-8

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1After these things the word of the LORD came to

Abram in a vision, saying, Do not fear, Abram, I am ashield to you; Your reward shall be very great. 2Abram

said, O Lord GOD, what will You give me, since I am

childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of

Damascus? 3And Abram said, "Since You have given

no offspring to me, one born in my house is my heir."4Then behold, the word of the LORD came to him,

saying, "This man will not be your heir; but one who will

come forth from your own body, he shall be your heir."

5And He took him outside and said, "Now look towardthe heavens, and count the stars, if you are able to

count them " And He said to him, So shall your

descendants be. 6 Then he believed in the LORD; andHe reckoned it to him as righteousness.

Genesis 15:1-6

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1 How blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven,Whose sin is covered!2How blessed is the man to whom the LORD does notimpute iniquity,

And in whose spirit there is no deceit!3When I kept silent about my sin, my body wasted

awayThrough my groaning all day long.

4For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me;

My vitality was drained away as with the fever heat

of summer. Selah.5I acknowledged my sin to You,

And my iniquity I did not hide;

I said, I will confess my transgressions to the

LORD;

And You forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah.

Psalm 32:1-2

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