(Romans Series-12) "The God Who Gives Life to the Dead"

“THE GOD WHO GIVES LIFE TO THE DEAD”

Romans 4:13–25 (Go to the ESV Bible Verses)

Key Verse: 4:17 " ...as it is written, 'I have made you the father of many nations'––in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist."

1.  In verse 13, how could Abraham and his offspring receive God’s promise? What happens to faith and the promise if adherents to the law are his heirs (14)? Why would the law nullify the promise (15)?

2.  In verse 16, what are the two specific reasons God’s promise depends on faith? What do the words “grace” and  “guaranteed” mean, and why are they important?

3.  In verse 17a, what promise of God is mentioned (Gen. 17:4–5)? In verse 17b, how does Paul describe God, and why was this vital to Abraham? In verse 18, how could Abraham have hope?

4.  In verses 19–21, how does Paul further describe the quality of Abraham’s faith? In what sense did he demonstrate resurrection faith? 

5.  How does Paul apply the words “it was counted to him as righteousness” to believers in Jesus (22–25)? How does faith in Jesus’ death and resurrection assure us that we are justified before God (25)?

6.  In verse 17, what two actions of God are described? How does believing in God who can do these things define the quality of faith in Jesus that we need for righteousness?