Feb. 02, 2025

“Justification Is By Faith”
Romans 4:1-8
Central Idea: As Abraham was justified by faith and not by works,
so we are justified by faith and not by works.
I. The illustration of Abraham (1-3)
A. Abraham introduced (1-2)
• He was the __________ of the nation of Israel
• Called “the __________ of God”
• His descendant would bless all the __________ of the world.
• Had Abraham’s righteousness been rooted in his works, he
would have grounds for ______________.
• If Abraham was justified by faith, then he could take no credit
at all for his righteousness, for it would be a ______ from God.
B. Justified by faith and not by works (3)
• “For what does the Scripture say?”
God’s Word is the __________ & _______ authority in our lives
• Abraham’s ________ were not the basis for his justification; his
________ was the basis.
• “credited” —“to put to one’s ___________”
• God credits the ________________ of Jesus Christ to people.
II. Illustrating the difference between faith and works (4-5)
• A pay check is not a _______, but what is due to us for working.
• Paul doesn't want us to miss this point — __________!
• Who is it God justifies? The ________.
III. The Illustration of David (6-8)
• God also does not “credit” their ______ to them.
• Psalm 32 - David’s confession of his sin with Bathsheba.
1. Lawless deeds forgiven (7a)
• “forgiven” - “to ________ ________ ”
2. Sins have been covered (7b)
• “covered” - on the day of atonement blood taken into the
Holy of holies and _____________ on the ark of the covenant.
3. Sin the Lord will not take into account (8)
• God writes our sin in Christ’s ________ & ________ Him for it.
• Writing in our ledger the righteousness of Christ = _________.
Application:
1. The greatest blessing under heaven is to have God in His grace
_____________ to your account the very righteousness of Jesus.
Your spiritual account can read ________, but God can fill it
with the ________ of God and the righteousness of Jesus.
2. Justification is extended to those who are sinful and deserve
______________.
• It is not the person who ______ being ungodly God justifies.
• It is not the _____________ person who God justifies, nor the
__________ person, nor the ______________ person — it is the
ungodly person whom God justifies.
• Grace is God’s undeserved favor granted to those who deserve
His wrath, but ___________.