Abraham Justified by Faith – Romans 4:1-25
Understand It
- What was the main characteristic of Abraham’s relationship with God? (4:1-3)
- How was Abraham righteous before God? (4:3)
- How did David describe what God does to make a person righteous? (4:6-8)
- What was the relationship between Abraham’s righteousness and his circumcision? (4:9-11)
- What was the purpose of circumcision in Abraham’s life? (4:11)
- On what basis can both the circumcised and the uncircumcised claim Abraham as their father? (4:11-12)
- On what basis did Abraham receive the promise of inheriting the world? (4:13)
- Why would God’s promise be worthless if a person had to keep the Law perfectly to receive it? (4:14-15)
- What does the Law bring to those who live by it? (4:15)
- What was God’s promise to Abraham? (4:18)
- What facts might have convinced Abraham that God’s promise of a son was impossible? (4:19)
- How was Abraham able to resist the temptation to doubt God’s promise? (4:20)
- What did Abraham believe about God that convinced him God could keep His promise? (4:20-21)
- How does Abraham’s righteousness by faith apply to us? (4:23-24)
- Whom has God provided as a worthy object of our faith? (4:24-25)
Apply It
- How can you pray this week to reaffirm your faith in God and not in works?
- What promise of God do you need to trust in this week?
Peace and Joy – Romans 5:1-11
Understand It
- What is the basis for our justification with God? (5:1)
- What is our relationship with God if we have been justified by faith? (5:1)
- How does Jesus Christ change a person’s standing with God? (5:2)
- For what reasons can a Christian rejoice? (5:2-3)
- What good things can result from suffering? (5:3-5)
- Why does hope not disappoint us? (5:5)
- How has God demonstrated His love for us? (5:6-8)
- What comparisons can be made between people giving their lives for others and Christ’s death for all people? (5:7-8)
- What was our relationship to God when Christ came to die for us? (5:8)
- What aspect of Christ’s death justifies a person in God’s sight? (5:9)
- How did God act to remove the barrier between Himself and all people? (5:9-10)
- If God has demonstrated His love to us through Jesus’ death, what can we anticipate concerning our future relationship with God? (5:10)
- For what reasons can a Christian rejoice? (5:11)
Apply It
- In what difficult circumstances do you need to stop grumbling and stay focused on joy in Christ?
- Who in your life needs to hear that through Jesus Christ they are no longer enemies with God?
Death Through Adam, Life Through Christ – Romans 5:12-21
Understand It
- What did Adam introduce into the world and pass on to his descendants? (5:12)
- What is the root cause of death? (5:12)
- How did the coming of God’s law affect the presence of sin in the world? (5:13)
- How did the coming of God’s law affect our understanding of what sin is? (5:13)
- What came into the world through Jesus Christ? (5:15)
- What is God’s solution to the inevitable problem of sin and death? (5:16-17)
- In what ways are the acts of Jesus and Adam similar? (5:18-19)
- What is the relationship between the amount of sin and grace in the world? (5:20)
- What effect did God’s righteous law have on rebellious people? (5:20)
- What does sin in this world produce? (5:21)
- What does grace given by God to this world produce? (5:21)
Apply It
- In what ways can you thank God today for the grace He has bestowed on you?
- What can you do this week for unsaved friends still suffering from the consequences of sin?
Dead to Sin, Alive in Christ – Romans 6:1-14
Understand It
- Why should a forgiven, justified person make a strong effort not to sin? (6:1-2)
- For what reason would a person not want to live in sin any longer? (6:2)
- What does baptism symbolize about our relationship to Christ? (6:2-4)
- What makes it possible for a person to live a new life? (6:4)
- Before a person is united to Christ, to what is he or she a slave? (6:6)
- How does being united with Christ through His death change our relationship to sin? (6:7)
- After Christ died and was raised, why did neither sin nor death have any power over Him? (6:7, 9-10)
- How will uniting with Christ in His death change the future of our lives? (6:8-10)
- In a person’s new relationship with God, what is his or her relationship to sin supposed to be? (6:11-12)
- What change in attitude and action toward God happens in a person who follows Christ? (6:11-13)
- Under whose control does a Christian live? (6:14)
- How does being under grace change a person? (6:14)
Apply It
- How can you actively resist the tendency to sin in your everyday life?
- How can you offer yourself as an instrument of righteousness to God and to others this week?
Slaves to Righteousness – Romans 6:15-23
Understand It
- Why shouldn’t a Christian continue to sin willingly? (6:15-18)
- Who or what determines the things that dominate or control a person? (6:16)
- How does sin dominate a person’s life? (6:16-18)
- What results follow from being a slave to obedience to God? (6:16, 19, 22)
- What is the result of being a slave to sin? (6:16, 21, 23)
- With what attitude do believers obey their new master, righteousness? (6:17)
- What change has happened to people who have put their trust in Christ? (6:17-18)
- What is the result of being a slave to righteousness? (6:19, 22)
- What are the wages of sin? (6:23)
- What is the gift of God? (6:23)
Apply It
- How can you show your wholehearted obedience to God this week?
- In what areas of your life do you need God’s help to loosen the grip of certain sins?
