265 - Leather Jacket, Clawhammer, Romans 3:27-4:12

Faith Like Abraham

Text: Romans 3:27-4:12

• Main Idea: Salvation has always been by grace through faith—Abraham looked forward to Christ; we look back. Justification is by faith alone, not works.

• Boasting Excluded (vv. 1–2)

  • Paul: no room for pride; Abraham saved by faith, not merit.

  • Salvation in every age rests on Christ’s righteousness.

• Abraham Believed (vv. 3–4)

  • Genesis 15: Abraham trusted God’s promise, and God counted him righteous.

  • Faith is the instrument of salvation, not a meritorious act.

• Faith as Trust (vv. 5; James 2)

  • Paul: justified before God; James: faith proven before men.

  • True faith includes personal trust (fiducia), not mere belief.

• Counted Righteous (vv. 5–6)

  • “Faith alone saves, but not a faith that is alone.”

  • Works flow from faith—they’re fruit, not foundation.

• Blessedness of Imputation (vv. 6–8)

  • David: blessed are those forgiven and credited with Christ’s righteousness.

  • Imputed righteousness = alien righteousness from Christ, not earned.

• Sign and Seal (vv. 9–12)

  • Abraham justified before circumcision—faith, not ritual, saves.

  • Baptism and the Lord’s Supper are signs and seals of covenant grace.