Romans 4 presents Abraham as the example of saving faith, showing that righteousness comes through faith before circumcision or works of the Law. Romans 5 teaches that those justified by faith now have peace with God, hope in suffering, and assurance through the love of Christ. Paul contrasts Adam and Christ to show that while sin and death entered through Adam, grace and life come more powerfully through Jesus Christ.

Chapter 4 & 5
Pastor Joel Roberto Guajardo

Abraham’s Faith

  • Romans 4 presents Abraham as the example of saving faith.

  • Abraham believed God, and righteousness was counted to him.

  • This happened before Abraham was circumcised.

  • Paul shows that righteousness by faith existed before the Law.

Faith Before Circumcision

  • Abraham was made righteous by faith, not by outward ritual.

  • Circumcision came after righteousness was counted to him.

  • Paul uses Abraham to challenge Jewish pride in outward signs.

  • True faith comes before external markers.

Boasting Is Excluded

  • Romans 3 teaches that no one is justified by works of the Law.

  • Romans 4 shows that Abraham had no right to boast.

  • Circumcised and uncircumcised believers are united through faith.

  • All who believe are children of Abraham by faith.

The Promise Comes Through Faith

  • God’s promise did not come through the Law.

  • The Law reveals sin and brings wrath.

  • Faith brings believers into right standing with God.

  • Jesus fulfilled the Law, and His righteousness is applied to those who believe.

A Righteousness Not Our Own

  • Believers stand before God in the righteousness of Christ.

  • Jesus perfectly obeyed the Father and fully met the righteous standard.

  • By faith, His righteousness is counted to us.

  • For the true believer, the day of judgment becomes a day of reward.

Abrahamic Faith

  • Abraham’s faith was real, dynamic, and growing.

  • His faith was not without weakness or doubt.

  • Yet Abraham learned to trust that God could do what He promised.

  • Saving faith grows in its ability to trust God.

Peace With God

  • Romans 5 teaches that those justified by faith have peace with God.

  • God is not angry with those who have received Christ by faith.

  • Believers are brought back to the Father’s table as sons and daughters.

  • This peace comes through the faithfulness of Jesus Christ.

Grace, Hope, and Love

  • Faith brings believers into a graced life before God.

  • Hope looks forward to the glory that is still to come.

  • Love reminds believers to live as God’s people in the present.

  • The love of God is poured into the hearts of His people.

Hope in Suffering

  • Believers may still face evil, pain, and difficult circumstances.

  • Yet suffering cannot remove the hope given in Christ.

  • God works even terrible circumstances for good.

  • The believer can find virtue, growth, and hope in hardship.

Assurance in Christ

  • If God sent His Son to save us, believers can trust Him for final deliverance.

  • Jesus personally secures the believer’s pardon.

  • On the day of judgment, believers stand in Christ’s righteousness.

  • Salvation is grounded in the costly work of Jesus.

Adam and Christ

  • Romans 5 compares Adam and Christ.

  • Through Adam, sin and death entered the world.

  • Through Christ, grace and life come to God’s people.

  • Christ brings a life more powerful than Adam’s death.

Sin and New Life

  • Humanity sins because it has a sinful nature.

  • Adam represents humanity in sin and death.

  • Christ represents His people in righteousness and life.

  • Believers now have the Holy Spirit and fight for righteousness.