He is Able (Romans 4)
The plan of salvation has always been by faith in Jesus.
Justification requires faith in Jesus as both Saviour and Lord.
Those who believe in Jesus receive the Holy Spirit.
God's people are members of spiritual Israel.
God is able to fulfill all His promises.
Jesus is able to deliver us from the penalty and power of sin.
1-3. The plan of salvation has always been by faith in Jesus.
Jesus is the Seed of Abraham. (Gal 3:16,17, Ge 15:5,6, Ge 17:7, 1Co 12:12,13, Gal 3:8,29, 1Jn 3:9, Rev 12:17)
Jesus is the Sacrificial Lamb. (Ge 3:15, Ge 4:2-7, Ge 22:10-13, Ex 12:5-7, Ex 29:38,39, Heb 10:3-5, Jn 1:29,36, Rev 5:6-12, Rev 13:8)
Jesus is the Grace of God. (Ge 6:8, Ex 33:12, Ps 84:11, Zec 4:6,7 (compare Ac 4:10,11), Ro 3:24, 1Co 1:4, Eph 4:7, 2Ti 2:1, Rev 22:21)
4. Grace is juxtaposed against debt.
Debt is owed due to a service rendered, or due to meritorious behavior.
Therefore, in contrast, grace must be given independent of any work or merit. (Ro 11:6, Eph 2:8,9)
5. God justifies the ungodly.
Justify [Gr. dikaioo (dik-ah-yo'-o)] - "to render (i.e. show or regard as) just or innocent:--free, justify (-ier), be righteous" (Strong's Dictionary)
Justify - "[L. justus, just, and facio, to make.]" (Webster's Dictionary 1828)
Justify - "To prove or show to be just, or conformable to law, right, justice, propriety or duty; to defend or maintain; to vindicate as right." (Webster's Dictionary 1828)
Justify - "In theology, to pardon and clear from guilt; to absolve or acquit from guilt and merited punishment, and to accept as righteous on account of the merits of the Savior, or by the application of Christ's atonement to the offender." (Webster's Dictionary 1828)
God's justification of the wicked is conditional. (compare Pr 17:15)
Justification requires sincere repentance from sin. (Lk 13:1-5, Lk 24:44-47, Ac 2:36-38)
Justification requires forgiveness from sin through a thankful faith in Jesus as Saviour. (Jn 14:6, Ac 4:12, 1Jn 5:12)
Justification requires freedom from sin through a trusting faith in Jesus as Lord. (Jn 8:34-36, Ro 6:1-6, 1Pe 2:24,25, 1Jn 2:1-6)
Faith is counted for righteousness.
This is a spiritual accounting transaction, recorded in a spiritual accounting book. (Rev 20:11-15)
The payment was made by Christ, with His blood, unto death. (Ac 20:28, 1Co 6:20, 1Co 15:3, Gal 4:4,5)
Note on Gal 4:5: Redeem - "To purchase back; to ransom" (Webster's Dictionary 1828)
6. Impute - "to set to the account of" (Webster's Dictionary 1828)
Genuine faith in Jesus is evidenced by actions. (Ro 2:13, Jas 2:19-24)
Actions are the fruit, rather than the cause, of justification. (Ro 3:20,28)
7. The penalty (charge) for sin is death. (Ro 6:23)
Out of love, Jesus died (paid) in our place. (Jn 3:16)
Since our sin debt was covered by Jesus, we receive forgivness. (Ro 8:1,33,34)
The natural response for such amazing grace is love. (compare Lk 7:41-43)
8. Through Jesus, our sins are blotted out of the record books. (Isa 43:25)
9,10. Righteousness is not imputed because of any external attribute. (compare Gal 5:6, Php 3:3)
11. Those who believe in Jesus receive the Holy Spirit as a sign and a seal. (Jn 6:27 compare Lk 3:22, 2Co 1:22, Eph 1:13,14, Eph 4:30, Col 2:11 compare Ro 8:9)
Here again, belief requires faith in Jesus as both Saviour and Lord. (Ac 5:29-32)
Note on Ac 5:31: Prince - "In a general sense, a sovereign; the chief and independent ruler of a nation or state. Thus when we speak of the princes of Europe, we include emperors and kings." (Webster's Dictionary 1828) (compare Rev 19:11-16)
Those who believe in Jesus belong to the same spiritual family (Spiritual Israel). (Ro 2:28,29)
12,13. The spiritual descendents of Abraham (Spiritual Israel) are related through faith in Jesus. (Ro 9:6-8, Gal 6:14-16, Eph 2:11-13,19)
14. Works of the law do not make anyone a spiritual child (heir) of God.
Rather, works of the law are a natural expression (fruit) of being born again through faith in Jesus.
15. The law defines and reveals sin. (1Jn 3:4)
Because it reveals sin, the law condemns and convicts sinners.
16. It is only through faith in Jesus that we become spiritual children of God. (Jn 1:12)
Since Abraham is referred to as the father of all who believe, true (spiritual) Israel consists of all genuine Christians. (Gal 3:6-9,14,26-29)
17. Because God directs the future, He knows what it will hold.
Among the dead, He sees a people who will be raised to eternal life. (Eze 37:1-14, Mk 12:26,27)
Among the lost, He sees a people who will be called by His name. (Ro 9:25,26)
All who want to partake of the promised future kingdom have the choice to do so. (Rev 22:17)
18. Hope is faith in the future, based upon Who we know holds that future. (compare 1Co 13:13)
19. Strong faith is not constrained by physical circumstances. (Php 4:13)
20. Strong faith does not stagger under the influence of doubt. (Jas 4:8)
21. God is able to fulfill all His promises.
He is able to do far more than we think He can. (Lk 1:37, Eph 3:20)
He is able to subdue all things. (Php 3:21)
He is able to save us. (Heb 7:25)
He is able to keep us from falling. (Jude 1:24,25)
22. Genuine faith believes that God will do all He has promised. (compare Heb 11:6)
23,24. Abraham's righteousness by faith is a pattern for all believers.
Note on verse 24: God the Father raised Jesus from the dead. (Gal 1:1)
25. Through His sacrificial death, Jesus is able to deliver us from the penalty of sin. (Jn 3:16, 1Jn 1:7,9)
Through His indwelling life, Jesus is able to deliver us from the power of sin. (Jn 17:3 compare 1Jn 2:3,4, Ro 1:17 compare Ro 3:31, Ro 8:6-9, Col 1:27,28, 1Jn 3:5,6)
Notes on 1Jn 3:6:
We are not to sin as the unconverted who have not and know not Jesus.
We are not to deceive ourselves as the Pharisees to think we need no improvement. (Lk 18:9-14, 1Jn 1:8-10, Php 2:9-13)
As we behold and follow Jesus, we will sin less and less. (2Co 3:18)