The Anatomy of Faith

I. In Relation to Justification - Romans 4:1-12
A. Our relationship with God is determined by "the law of faith" - Rom. 3:26-31
(cf. Heb. 11:6)
B. The experience of faith must be learned from Abraham, "the father of faith"
- Rom. 4:1, 11-12,16-17
1. God's appearing in the hearing of the Gospel and the infusion of faith - Acts 7:1-4 and Gen. 12:1-4 - Gen. 15:1-6 and Gal. 3:5-9 - Gen. 17:1-22 and Rom. 4:17-22
2. God's way of reckoning (logizomai; used 11 times in Rom. 4) in His relationship with man
a) God counts faith as righteousness - Rom. 4:2-3, 5
b) God doesn't reward man with righteousness on the basis of debt, but on the basis of free grace - Rom. 4:4-5; 3:24
c) God bestows righteousness apart from works - Rom. 4:6; 3:28
d) God infuses happiness with an inner-spirit celebration by -
(1) Bestowing the gift of righteousness - Rom. 4:6; 5:17
(2) Forgiving our lawlessnesses - Rom. 4:7a (cf. Psa. 32:1-2)
(3) Covering our sins - Rom. 4:7b
(4) Not counting our sins against us - Rom. 4:8; 2 Cor. 5:19
e) God reckons righteousness apart from and before "outward practices" - Rom. 4:9-12
II. In Relation to God's Purpose - Romans 4:13-25
A. God's purpose in the experience of faith is to be an "heir of the world"
- Rom. 4:13-14, 16
1. God's purpose of image and dominion - Gen. 1:26-28
2. God's purpose in the call of Abraham - Heb. 11:8-10
3. God's purpose consummated in the kingdom - Rev. 1:4-6; 11:15; 20:1-4
B. God's purpose is realized by Christ being formed in us - Rom. 4:17 and Gal. 4:19-31
1. Typified by Abraham's experience with Isaac, his son - Rom. 4:17
a) Being born by faith - "calls the things not being as being"
b) Being raised from the dead by faith - "gives life to the dead"
2. Faith-knowledge from the Word vs sense-knowledge with Abraham
- Rom. 4:18-22
3. Faith-knowledge and receiving the receipt of our justification through the resurrection of Christ - Rom. 4:23-25