Romans (Youth) 4A

Old Testament Proof for Being Saved through Faith (Abraham)

Scripture: Romans 4:1-12

Exposure to Exposition & Exploring the Scriptures: (15-20 mins)

• Bible Drills (Memorization of OT & NT Book order)

• Guide the children to Romans 4:1-12 in the Bible. (Help them as needed, NT vs OT)

• Say: We are going to continue through Paul's letter to the church of Rome.

• We will learn that the gospel is God’s power to save everyone who believes, and we should never be ashamed of Jesus.

• Read aloud. (Ask kids to place their pointer fingers on V1 and follow along)

Opening Question

“Can you think of someone who trusted God even when it didn’t make sense? Today we’ll learn about a man named Abraham, who believed God’s promise- and that’s why God called him righteous!”

Notes:

1. Remember last week, Paul told us in v21 that God’s solution for salvation is “apart from the Law.”

2. Paul says the righteousness we need to enter Heaven is not our own- it’s God’s righteousness given to us.

3. This plan of salvation isn’t new- Paul reminds us it was promised in the Old Testament.

4. Paul explains that God’s righteousness comes to us through faith in Jesus Christ.

5. Salvation is available to both Jews and Gentiles.

6. Through faith, we are justified- declared innocent in God’s courtroom.

7. God didn’t ignore sin- He dealt with it through the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus.

8. Paul finishes Chapter 3 by showing that salvation by faith leaves no room for boasting.

Romans 4:1-12 NLT
1 Abraham was, humanly speaking, the founder of our Jewish nation. What did he discover about being made right with God? 2 If his good deeds had made him acceptable to God, he would have had something to boast about. But that was not God’s way. 3 For the Scriptures tell us, “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.”
4 When people work, their wages are not a gift, but something they have earned. 5 But people are counted as righteous, not because of their work, but because of their faith in God who forgives sinners. 6 David also spoke of this when he described the happiness of those who are declared righteous without working for it:
7 “Oh, what joy for those
    whose disobedience is forgiven,
    whose sins are put out of sight.
8 Yes, what joy for those
    whose record the Lord has cleared of sin.”
9 Now, is this blessing only for the Jews, or is it also for uncircumcised Gentiles? Well, we have been saying that Abraham was counted as righteous by God because of his faith. 10 But how did this happen? Was he counted as righteous only after he was circumcised, or was it before he was circumcised? Clearly, God accepted Abraham before he was circumcised!
11 Circumcision was a sign that Abraham already had faith and that God had already accepted him and declared him to be righteous—even before he was circumcised. So Abraham is the spiritual father of those who have faith but have not been circumcised. They are counted as righteous because of their faith. 12 And Abraham is also the spiritual father of those who have been circumcised, but only if they have the same kind of faith Abraham had before he was circumcised.

Paul will now break down each section of this work that God does in the next few chapters of Romans. Paul began by saying that the salvation we have was witnessed by the Law and the Prophets; therefore, this is what Paul will show in Chapter 4. Proof in the Old Hebrew writings. (Old Testament)

Rom. 3:21 But now God has shown us a way to be made right with him without keeping the requirements of the law, as was promised in the writings of Moses and the prophets long ago.

Starting with THE classic example of salvation by faith; Abraham.

Romans 4:1-3 Abraham was, humanly speaking, the founder of our Jewish nation. What did he discover about being made right with God? 2 If his good deeds had made him acceptable to God, he would have had something to boast about. But that was not God’s way. 3 For the Scriptures tell us, “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.”

Who is Abraham? Four Stages in Abraham’s Life

Show images to kids so they can grasp who Abraham is & what God did through him.

• V1-3 Abraham Was Made Right by Faith, Not Works

  • Abraham was the man chosen by God to be the first Jewish man, to make a chosen people of God. (v.1)

  • Abraham wasn’t saved because he did good things. Because then he could boast. (v.2)

  • God said Abraham was righteous because he believed God’s promise. (Faith) (v.3)

  • “Believing” means trusting God even when you don’t understand everything.

  • Abraham trusted that God would do what He said- and God counted his faith as righteousness. (v.3)

  • Kid Point: God makes us right with Him when we believe, not because we’re perfect.

Romans 4:4-5 When people work, their wages are not a gift, but something they have earned. 5 But people are counted as righteous, not because of their work, but because of their faith in God who forgives sinners.

If all men are in the same predicament (sinful), then all men need the same solution.

• V4-5 We Can’t Earn God’s Gift

  • When we do chores, we earn money- that’s payment for work. (v.4)

  • But God’s forgiveness isn’t something we can earn; it’s a gift. (v.4)

  • God forgives sinners and gives us His righteousness because we believe in Him. (v.5)

  • Kid Point: You can’t work your way to Heaven- you believe your way there!

Paul uses another great Old Testament character, King David/ David & Goliath, to prove that salvation is by faith not works, law, or heritage.

Romans 4:6-8 David also spoke of this when he described the happiness of those who are declared righteous without working for it:
7 “Oh, what joy for those
    whose disobedience is forgiven,
    whose sins are put out of sight.
8 Yes, what joy for those
    whose record the Lord has cleared of sin.”

• V6-8 David said the Same Thing (Saved through our faith in God’s promise)

  • King David lived long after Abraham and said the same thing: God forgives disobedient people of sins! (v.6)

  • Being forgiven makes us right with God- that should truly give us joy that we are free from sin's punishment. (v.7&8)

  • God covers our sin so it’s no longer counted against us. (v.8)

  • We don’t have to live in guilt- we can live in joy! (v.7&8)

  • Kid Point: When God forgives us, He did the work to make us right. He doesn’t save us because of anything we do or don’t do. This should give us JOY!

Romans 4:9-12 Now, is this blessing only for the Jews, or is it also for uncircumcised Gentiles? Well, we have been saying that Abraham was counted as righteous by God because of his faith. 10 But how did this happen? Was he counted as righteous only after he was circumcised, or was it before he was circumcised? Clearly, God accepted Abraham before he was circumcised!
11 Circumcision was a sign that Abraham already had faith and that God had already accepted him and declared him to be righteous—even before he was circumcised. So Abraham is the spiritual father of those who have faith but have not been circumcised. They are counted as righteous because of their faith. 12 And Abraham is also the spiritual father of those who have been circumcised, but only if they have the same kind of faith Abraham had before he was circumcised.

• V9-12 Abraham Is the Father of Everyone Who Believes

  • Paul addresses a common question AGAIN: is salvation ONLY for Jews? Or for everyone? (v.9)

  • Abraham was made right with God before he was circumcised-  before he became “officially Jewish.”(v.10)

  • That means God’s promise wasn’t just for one group of people- it’s for everyone who believes. (v.11-12)

  • Circumcision was just a sign that showed Abraham already trusted God. (v.11)

  • Today, we show our faith through baptism- a sign that we already belong to Jesus!

  • Kid Point: God’s family is made up of everyone who believes in Jesus!

Observation Questions (What did it say?)

1. What did Abraham believe that made God count him as righteous? (In God’s Promise to use His family to bring forgiveness of sin to all nations)

2. Did Abraham earn God’s approval by his good works or by faith? (No)

3. When did Abraham receive the sign of circumcision- before or after he believed? (After)

Understanding Questions (What does it mean?)

1. Why do you think God chose faith (not good deeds) as the way to make us right with Him? (All of us sin)

2. How does Abraham’s story show that anyone (Jew or Gentile) can be saved by faith? (He was saved before God chose him to be the Father of the Jews)

3. What does it mean when the Bible says God “credited” Abraham’s faith as righteousness? (He didn’t work for it, it was just given to him freely)

Application Questions (What should I do?)

1. What are some ways you can show faith in God like Abraham did?

2. When is it hardest for you to trust God’s promises- and what can you do in those times?

3. How can you remind others that faith in Jesus, not good works, makes us right with God?

PDF · 57.9 KB

Activity

Romans (Youth) — Romans (Youth) 4A

PDF · 70.0 KB

For Older Kids

Romans (Youth) — Romans (Youth) 4A

Remind them: What is the Gospel?

Jesus’ perfect life paid for the sins of all who believe. Jesus died on the cross as the punishment for sin. But Jesus did not stay dead, three days later He rose to life (resurrection) defeating the power of death. Believe, and you will be saved!

• We are all sinful. We all deserve the consequence of sin- death.

• Jesus is what saves us from the sin we all have in our bodies. And one day, he’ll even give us a new body.

Supporting Truths Kids Can Grasp:

• Faith came before works- Abraham believed first, then obeyed.

• God’s plan never changed- people have always been saved by faith.

• Signs don’t save us- they show the work God has done inside of us.

• Faith makes us family- everyone who believes in Jesus is part of Abraham’s family too!

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.