Craig A. Brittingham, Pastor
Hillside Baptist Church
April 5, 2026
“The God Who Gives Life to the Dead” – Romans 4:19-25
A Man and His Faith
– He is not just any old man who had faith, but is set forth in thescriptures as the model man of faith.
– In fact, according to the Bible, he is the father of all who believe.
– That man of course is Abram whose name was later changed to Abraham.
– If we are to be counted among the people of God, we must believe as Abraham believed.
Abraham Believed God
– Abraham believed God to be the God Who gives life to the dead (Rom.4:17; Hebrews 11:17-19).
– In Romans chapter 4, Abraham’s faith in God’s ability to give life to the dead was in reference to God’s promise to make of him a great nation.
– As Abraham approached one hundred years old and Sarah ninety, he continued to believe God though there were times his faith was weak (Genesis 17:17).
We Must Believe God
– Don’t lose hope that God will grant what He has promised – be like Abraham (Romans 4:20-21).
– Abraham believed the promise of God and he was justified = to be declared righteous in the sight of God.
– Like Abraham we are called upon to believe a similar promise if we are to be justified – that God gives life to the dead.
– Specifically, that God gave life to His dead Son after He died for our sins (Romans 4:23-25).
– You cannot by your works be righteous enough “before God” to be saved!
Questions…
1. What does it mean to be justified?
2. Can people be justified in God’s sight through doing works
3. Why is it important to define justification in terms of being “declared” righteous rather than being “made” righteous?
4. If there is none righteous, no not one (Rom.3:10), how can God declare anyone righteous including the ungodly (4:5)?
5. Abraham is the model of all who believe God and are justified. After he was justified, he certainly lived by faith and is anexample worth following. How did Abraham exhibit faith in God when He asked him to sacrifice his son?
6. How is Abraham’s faith an encouragement to us as we wait on God to fulfill His promises to us? In reference to what promises of God are you trusting Him right now?
7. What is the connection between Abraham’s faith and ours here in Romans 4? In other words, how is what God called upon Abraham to believe in order to be justified similar to what we must believe? See especially 4:17, 24-25.
8. How is the importance of Christ’s resurrection stressed in Romans 4:24-25?
9. How is faith in God defined in 4:21?