Abraham Justified by Faith | Romans 4:1-12

Believers in Jesus Christ have won the lottery. The only difference is that our prize is far greater: we are declared right with God, all our debts are forgiven, and we are promised eternity in heaven. We could never earn or deserve any of these, a fact that was especially radical in Paul’s day. There was a belief in Judaism that salvation came by obedience to God’s Law, but Paul put forth that no one but Jesus could fulfill the Law. Paul then showed his Jewish brethren that their father Abraham was saved by faith before the Law was given (Gen. 15:6). 

Because God has credited us with a righteousness we have not earned and wiped out a debt we could not pay, the only proper response is for us to follow Jesus. We are called to “walk in the footsteps of the faith” like Abraham: “By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God” (Hebrews 11:8-10).

Take-Home Message: God credits righteousness to my account through faith.

God credited to me a righteousness I did not earn (1–5).

God forgave the debt I did earn (6–8).

God calls me to follow in the footsteps of the faith (9–12).

The footsteps of the faith is a well-worn trail.
The footsteps of the faith are not walked alone.
The footsteps of the faith include the cross but end in glory.