Detailed Outline of Romans
The Gospel of Salvation by Faith Unites All Believers—Jew and Greek
The Proclamation of the Gospel (Rom 1:18-4:25)
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The gospel proclaims the guilt of all men—condemnation before the righteous Judge (Rom 1:18-3:20)
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God’s wrath against unrighteousness [sin characteristic of Gentiles] (Rom 1:18-32)
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The reality of the wrath of God (Rom 1:18)
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God’s wrath is recognized as essential to His holy nature
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God’s wrath is revealed from heaven even now
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The reasons for the wrath of God (Rom 1:18-23)
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Men have repressed the truth in unrighteousness (Rom 1:18)
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Men have rejected the witness of creation concerning God’s glory and authority (Rom 1:19-20)
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All men know that God exists and they are accountable to Him (Rom 1:19)
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All men are without excuse concerning God’s transcendent glory and authority (Rom 1:20)
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Men have refused to honor God as He deserves and give thanks (Rom 1:21)
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Men have replaced true worship with idolatry (Rom 1:22-23)
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They professed to be wise apart from God’s revelation, and thus became fools (Rom 1:22)
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They perverted genuine worship, and turned to idolatry (Rom 1:23)
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The results of the wrath of God (Rom 1:24-32)
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God gave men over to their defiled desires (Rom 1:24-25)
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The lusts that result in impurity [God gave them over] (Rom 1:24)
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The lie that results in idolatry [because they exchanged the truth for the lie] (Rom 1:25)
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God gave men over to their degrading passions (Rom 1:26-27)
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The passions that result in degradation [God gave them over] (Rom 1:26)
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The perversion that results in devastation [because they exchanged the natural for the unnatural] (Rom 1:27)
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God gave men over to their depraved minds (Rom 1:28-32)
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The decision that results in a depraved mind [God gave them over] (Rom 1:28ab)
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The description that illustrates the results of a depraved mind (Rom 1:28c-31)
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The summary—things which are not proper (Rom 1:28c)
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Having been filled with four sins that reveal a lack of love for God (Rom 1:29a)
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Full of five sins that reveal a lack of love for one’s neighbor (Rom 1:29b)
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Twelve sins listed in a separate grammatical unit—the last for all beginning with the alpha prefix (Rom 1:29c-31)
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The delight that results in the destruction of others (Rom 1:32)
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God’s judgment against self-righteousness [sin characteristic of Jews] (Rom 2:1-3:8)
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The impartiality of God’s judgment—falls upon the self-righteous as well as the unrighteous (Rom 2:1-16)
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God’s judgment will come upon the impenitent [unrepentant] (Rom 2:1-5)
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Self-righteousness is inexcusable in light of God’s righteous judgment (Rom 2:1-3)
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Self-righteous judgment leads to self-condemnation (Rom 2:1-2)
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The judgment of the self-righteous is ridiculous (Rom 2:1)
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The judgment of God against sinners is right (Rom 2:2)
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Self-righteous judgment leads to self-deception (Rom 2:3)
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Self-righteousness is indicative of spiritual ignorance and an unrepentant heart (Rom 2:4-5)
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The self-righteous spurn the riches of God’s kindness and patience (Rom 2:4)
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The self-righteous store up for themselves the wrath of God (Rom 2:5)
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God’s judgment will be consistent with His impartiality (Rom 2:6-11)
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God’s righteous judgment will reward each man according to his deeds—whether Jew or Greek (Rom 2:6-10)
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The reality of God’s impartial judgment revealed in the Scriptures—each man will be judged according to his deeds (Rom 2:6)
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The rewards of those who remain steadfast in good work, and the rewards of those who are selfishly ambitious (Rom 2:7-10)
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The steadfast workers of good seeking glory, honor, and incorruptibility—eternal life (Rom 2:7)
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The selfishly ambitious—wrath and indignation (Rom 2:8)
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The soul who does evil—tribulation and distress (Rom 2:9)
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The satisfaction of the one who is constantly working the good—glory, honor, and peace (Rom 2:10)
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God’s righteous judgment will reveal that He doesn’t play favorites (Rom 2:11)
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God’s judgment will be consistent with His impeccability (Rom 2:12-16)
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Judgment will fall upon all sinners in a manner appropriate to the revelation of God afforded to them (Rom 2:12)
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Those who sin without the written Law, will be destroyed apart from the written Law (Rom 2:12a)
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Those who sin in reference to the written Law, will be condemned by the written Law (Rom 2:12b)
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Just being a hearer of the law is inadequate for righteousness, one must be a constant doer of the Law (Rom 2:13)
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Judgment will be rendered toward the Gentiles without the Law, based upon the witness of their conscience (Rom 2:14-15)
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The code by which Gentiles live is a kind of law to themselves (Rom 2:14)
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The conscience of the Gentiles bears witness to the work of the Law written in their hearts (Rom 2:15)
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Judgment will include the secrets of men, on the day when God judges through Jesus Christ (Rom 2:16)
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The inconsistency of an orthodox religion without the reality of faith—reveals an uncircumcised heart (Rom 2:17-29)
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The boast of orthodox religion—the issue of spiritual privilege and Jewish perspective (Rom 2:17-20)
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The privilege of the Jew (Rom 2:17-18)
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Recognized as one of God’s covenant people and chosen nation (Rom 2:17a)
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Resting upon the Law (Rom 2:17b)
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Rejoicing in the true God (Rom 2:17c)
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Recognizing the will of God (Rom 2:18)
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The perspective of the Jew (Rom 2:19-20)
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Confident of being a guide and a light to those who cannot see (Rom 2:19)
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Correcting the foolish and teaching the immature (Rom 2:20)
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The blasphemy of religion without the reality of faith—the issue of spiritual blindness and Jewish hypocrisy (Rom 2:21-24)
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Their blindness questioned (Rom 2:21-22)
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Do you not teach yourself (Rom 2:21a)
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Do you steal (Rom 2:21b)
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Do you commit adultery (Rom 2:22a)
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Do you rob temples (Rom 2:22b)
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Their blasphemy confirmed (Rom 2:23-24)
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The breaking of the law and reproach of God (Rom 2:23)
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The blasphemy of the Jews and the affirmation of the Old Testament (Rom 2:24)
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The bottom-line concerning the privilege of the Jew—the issue of spiritual circumcision and Jewish externalism (Rom 2:25-29)
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Semitic circumcision (being a Jew physically) is of no value if you are a transgressor of the Law (Rom 2:25)
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Specifically consider the scenario of a Gentile keeping the Law (Rom 2:26-27)
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Will he not be regarded as one of God’s people (Rom 2:26)
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Will he not judge the Jew who has transgressed God’s Law (Rom 2:27)
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Spiritual circumcision is a matter of the heart, rather than an external rite (Rom 2:28-29)
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A Jew is not a true Jew just because he is circumcised (Rom 2:28)
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A Jew is a true Jew only if his heart is circumcised by the Spirit (Rom 2:29)
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The inferable objections to Paul’s teaching, and his answers [anticipated objections to Paul’s argument answered]—the Jews are privileged; God is faithful; God is just; and God calls for holy living (Rom 3:1-8)
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Objection #1 answered—Paul’s gospel rejects God’s covenant with Israel (Rom 3:1-2)
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The anticipated question (Rom 3:1)
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The answer (Rom 3:2)
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Objection #2 answered—Paul’s gospel rejects God’s faithfulness (Rom 3:3-4)
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The anticipated question (Rom 3:3)
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The answer (Rom 3:4)
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Objection #3 answered—Paul’s gospel rejects God’s justice (Rom 3:5-6)
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The anticipated question (Rom 3:5)
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The answer (Rom 3:6)
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Objection #4 answered—Paul’s gospel rejects holy living (Rom 3:7-8)
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The anticipated question (Rom 3:7-8ab)
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The answer (Rom 3:8c)
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God’s verdict against all humanity (Rom 3:9-20)
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The charge against both Jew and Greek restated (Rom 3:9)
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The final question concerning self-righteousness (Rom 3:9a)
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The final confirmation that both Jews and Greeks are all under sin (Rom 3:9b)
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The confirmation of the Jewish Scriptures recounted (Rom 3:10-18)
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Man’s depravity is universal (Rom 3:10-12; cf. Psa 14:1c, 2b, 3; Psa 53:1c, 2b, 3)
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There is none who is righteous (Rom 3:10)
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There is none who has faith (Rom 3:11)
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There is none who does good (Rom 3:12)
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Man’s depravity is undeniable (Rom 3:13-18; cf. Psa 10:7; Isa 59:7-8; Psa 36:1)
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Men’s words reveal their depravity (Rom 3:13-14)
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Death and deception (Rom 3:13)
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Damnation and displeasure (Rom 3:14)
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Men’s works reveal their depravity (Rom 3:15-17)
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Injury (Rom 3:15)
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Misery (Rom 3:16)
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Hostility (Rom 3:17)
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Men’s want [lack] of genuine faith reveals his depravity (Rom 3:18)
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The culpability of the Jew re-emphasized (Rom 3:19-20)
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The Law renders all men accountable to God—even Jews (Rom 3:19)
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The Law reveals the knowledge of sin—but by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified before God (Rom 3:20)
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The gospel proclaims the gift of God—justification by grace through faith in the righteous Savior (Rom 3:21-4:24)
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Justification by faith proclaimed [The revelation of the righteousness of God, received by faith] (Rom 3:21-31)
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The righteousness of God [a right standing before God] is received apart from works of the Law—through the faith of Jesus Christ—for all who trust Him (Rom 3:21-22a)
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The righteousness of God is revealed as apart from the Law (Rom 3:21a)
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The righteousness of God is reported by the Law and the Prophets (Rom 3:21b)
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The righteousness of God is received through the faith of Jesus Christ for all who believe (Rom 3:22a)
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The reckoning of sinners as righteous [a right standing before God] is a gift of God’s grace, through faith in the redemption that is in Christ Jesus (Rom 3:22b-26)
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The reckoning of a sinner as righteous is a gift of God’s grace (Rom 3:22b-24a)
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The universal need for God’s righteousness (Rom 3:22b-23)
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The unmerited favor that imputes God’s righteousness to those who believe (Rom 3:24a)
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The reckoning of a sinner as righteous is obtained through faith in the redemption that Christ accomplished by His sacrifice (Rom 3:24b-25a)
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The redemption which is in Christ Jesus (Rom 3:24b)
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The Redeemer who was presented as the satisfactory sacrifice through faith (Rom 3:25a)
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The redemptive work of Christ is proof that God is both a righteous Judge and gracious Savior (Rom 3:25b-26)
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In Christ’s sacrifice, God’s justice is demonstrated in regard to not punishing sin long ago (Rom 3:25b)
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In Christ’s sacrifice, God’s justice is demonstrated in regard to His justification of sinners who trust in Jesus (Rom 3:26)
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Justification by faith pictured in the Old Testament [The reception of the righteousness of God by faith, illustrated] (Rom 4:1-25)
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The Scriptures testify that God justifies the ungodly by means of faith, apart from works (Rom 4:1-8)
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The case of Abraham’s justification (Rom 4:1-5)
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An inquiry into Abraham’s right standing before God (Rom 4:1-2)
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Abraham’s pre-eminence in Jewish-Gentile justification (Rom 4:1)
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Abraham’s proud confidence before God—in works or God’s promise? (Rom 4:2)
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An inspired testimony concerning Abraham’s right standing before God (Rom 4:3)
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An incompatibility between works and grace (Rom 4:4-5)
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Works depend on wages due (Rom 4:4)
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Faith depends on Him who justifies the ungodly (Rom 4:5)
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The confirmation of David’s psalm (Rom 4:6-8)
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The blessing of justification by faith, apart from works, introduced (Rom 4:6)
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The blessing of lawless deeds forgiven (Rom 4:7a)
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The blessing of sins covered (Rom 4:7b)
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The blessing of sin not taken into account (Rom 4:8)
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The setting of Abraham’s justification confirms that God justifies a man by means of faith, apart from an external rite like circumcision (Rom 4:9-12)
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Who receives the divine favor of justification—the circumcised only or the uncircumcised also? (Rom 4:9)
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The question (Rom 4:9a)
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The quotation (Rom 4:9b)
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When was Abraham justified—before or after his circumcision? (Rom 4:10)
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The question (Rom 4:10a)
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The chronology (Rom 4:10b)
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Why then was Abraham circumcised after he had already been declared righteous before God? (Rom 4:11-12)
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Abraham was circumcised as a visible mark of the faith that he had while uncircumcised (Rom 4:11a)
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Abraham was justified before he was circumcised, so that he might be the father of all who are justified by faith without being circumcised (Rom 4:11b)
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Abraham was justified before he was circumcised, so that he might be the father of all who are circumcised, yet are justified by faith as he was (Rom 4:12)
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The sure promise of righteousness is not obtained by means of the law, but by means of faith (Rom 4:13-25)
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The promise of God is obtained by faith rather than law (Rom 4:13-17a)
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The promise of God to Abraham and his seed is through the righteousness of faith rather than through Law keeping (Rom 4:13)
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The promise of God is nullified if it must be earned through Law keeping (Rom 4:14)
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The produce of Law keeping in order to obtain God’s promise, is wrath and transgression (Rom 4:15)
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The promise of God is guaranteed to those who are of faith, in accordance with grace (Rom 4:16-17a)
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The principle of faith in accordance with grace (Rom 4:16a)
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The people who are guaranteed the promise (Rom 4:16b-17a)
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The perspective of faith is one of trust in God and His Word (Rom 4:17b-22)
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Abraham trusted in God’s Person as the object of his faith (Rom 4:17b)
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Abraham trusted in God’s power to keep His promise (Rom 4:17c)
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Abraham trusted in God’s promise as revealed in His Word (Rom 4:18-21)
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Faith trusts specifically in God’s revealed Word (Rom 4:18)
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Faith trusts in God’s Word even when circumstances would deny the possibility of it coming to pass (Rom 4:19)
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Faith does not dispute with God’s Word, but rather gives glory to God (Rom 4:20)
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Faith leads to the conviction that what God has promised, He is able to do (Rom 4:21)
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Abraham’s trust was also credited to him as righteousness (Rom 4:22)
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The promise of imputed righteousness by faith, applies to New Testament believers as well (Rom 4:23-25)
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The principle of imputed righteousness through faith, applies not only to Abraham, but to New Testament believers as well (Rom 4:23-24)
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The passion and resurrection of Christ is the ultimate basis for the believer’s righteous standing before God (Rom 4:25)
The Prologue, Prayer Report, and Primary Theme of the Epistle (Rom 1:1-17)
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