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. LESSON 8 (June 1) . Romans 4:1 -25 ** Abraham, Who is the Father of Us ** What we have as the conclusion of Romans 2 in our Bibles communicates this important information: No one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical. But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God. (2:28-29) Throughout Romans 3 and beyond, Paul anticipates and answers a number of Jewish objections to what he has written. • Then what advantage has the Jew? (3:1) • What is the value of circumcision? (3:1) •Is God unrighteous to inflict wrath on us? (3:5) •Why not do evil that good may come? (3:8) This leads us to a fifth question in Romans 4:1. What then shall we say was gained by Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh? Our entire fourth chapter of Romans addresses the case study of Abraham and his justification. Paul begins his answer by putting things into their overall perspective. For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before Cod. (4:2) Why? In order to understand the full scope of Paul's answer, take the time now --before going any further-- to read Genesis 15:1-20. If you'd like an even firmer grasp of the overall context, begin reading in Genesis 12 and read through Genesis 15. When you think of Abraham, what comes to mind? Why does Paul refer to Abraham as "our forefather according to the flesh" in 4:1? Why is Paul so confidently able to proclaim that Abraham could not be justified by works before God (4:2)?