These are the five things I learned from reading Romans 4: Why I Don’t Have to Be Perfect!

Five Things I learned From Reading Romans 4.

Romans, a letter Paul wrote to the local churches in Rome, tells us things we should know. But we don’t have to be Bible scholars to learn from it. This bible study for beginners shows us why I don't have to be perfect. Here are five things I learned from Romans 4. There is a lot more to this letter, but this is what I found-at least at first.

One, 2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. Romans 4:2.

Abraham was the ancestor of all Jews. To him the land that is now Israel was given. He was given the covenant (that is, a contract or agreement) of circumcision. God promised him a son when he and his wife Sarah could not conceive a child. He accomplished many things. But none of them were good enough for him to boast to God.

Two, 3 For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” Romans 4:3

Now we get to the main point, Abraham believed God and lived like he believed God. He was not perfect, but his faith made him righteous before God. Paul is telling us to imitate this; we can never be perfect-that is God’s job. But by faith we can be righteous before God. This is revolutionary thinking!

Three, 13 For the promise to Abraham or to his descendants that he would be heir of the world was not through the Law, but through the righteousness of faith. Romans 4:13

Now we can begin to see what is happening. We cannot get to our promised land by doing anything other than having faith, which means trusting God, believing God, and repenting to God when we sin.

Four, 16 For this reason it is by faith, in order that it may be in accordance with grace, so that the promise will be guaranteed to all the descendants, not only to those who are of the Law, but also to  those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all, Romans 4:16

When we live by faith (Romans 1:17) we become righteous before God. This is our part; grace is God’s part. We are saved by grace, through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9). We cannot save ourselves! We must follow God and allow Him to work in our lives, to give us His salvation.

Five, 20 yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God, 21 and being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able also to perform. Romans 4:20-21

So, when we live by faith, we get the assurance that what God has promised us, salvation through what Jesus (who is God) has done, we will be given to us. Furthermore, we will be able, by God’s grace, to face the challenges we must overcome in this world. Some of these are spiritual, growing in our faith. Some are not, like finding a job, getting married, buying a car, and so on. By grace, through the faith we live in, we grow stronger, and more joyful.

This sums all this up. We are saved by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9). There is nothing we can do to be righteous, but there is everything we must do in obeying God. I always thought I had to be good or act a certain way. God says “no”, follow and obey Me. I will do the rest!

This is not an in-depth study of this chapter but is what I learned from it. We must turn to God in repentance and follow Him in faith. If we live this way we become a different people, a people who can spread the message of the gospel-the love and mercy of God. And that is good news!