One-Year Bible Reading Plan  : Seekers & New Believers | May 1 | Romans Chapter 4: Justified by Faith, Receiving the Promise 

🦌 Opening Today’s Reading 

Dear brothers, sisters, and friends, peace be with you in the Lord!

Welcome to today's reading journey! Today, we are exploring Romans Chapter 4 together.

In our daily lives, we are used to the rule of "earning what we get" and "performance leads to acceptance." Because of this, when we come before God, we often feel anxious: Am I good enough? How can I truly be accepted by God?

Let's pause and take a quiet moment to lay down the burden of self-effort and anxiety. Let's step into today's scripture together and see how Paul uses Abraham to show us the free, unmerited grace and promises of God received through faith alone.

📖 Context Snapshot 

Where are we today?

Romans Chapter 4 is a foundational chapter explaining the core gospel truth of justification by faith:

1. Abraham Justified by Faith (Romans 4:1–8): Quoting Genesis, Paul demonstrates that Abraham was credited as righteous not through works or merit, but because he believed God. Righteousness is a gift of grace, not a wage earned.

2. Faith Before the Law and Circumcision (Romans 4:9–16): Paul shows that Abraham was declared righteous before he was circumcised and long before the Law was given, making him the spiritual father of all who believe—both Jews and Gentiles.

3. Faith Against Hope (Romans 4:17–25): Even when his own body was as good as dead, Abraham believed in God’s power to quicken the dead and call things that be not as though they were. This unwavering faith was counted to him for righteousness, and will be counted to us who believe in Jesus' resurrection.

💡 Today’s Scripture Verse  - Romans 4

4 What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?

2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.

3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.

4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.

5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

6 Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,

7 Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.

8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.

9 Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness.

10 How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision.

11 And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also:

12 And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised.

13 For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.

14 For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect:

15 Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.

16 Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,

17 (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.

18 Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.

19 And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb:

20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;

21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.

22 And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.

23 Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him;

24 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;

25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.

🌟Daily Heart-Check:  From "Self-Effort" to "Trusting God" 

• Grace is Received, Not Earned: If righteousness were based on our performance, it would be a debt owed to us, not grace. God does not ask us to boast in our own achievements, but to humbly receive what Jesus Christ accomplished for us on the cross.

• Hoping Against Hope in God's Power: Abraham's faith shone when circumstances seemed entirely hopeless. Instead of focusing on his human impossibility, he fixed his eyes on the God who gives life to the dead. True faith looks past hopeless circumstances to trust God's unshakeable character and power.

🎵 Response Song :  

🙏 Closing Prayer

Loving Heavenly Father,

Thank You for giving us Your word today as we read Romans Chapter 4.

Thank You for showing us through Abraham that we are accepted and declared righteous before You not because of our own goodness or achievements, but simply because we place our faith in the grace You provided through Jesus Christ. Thank You for lifting the heavy burden of trying to earn Your love.

Grant us faith like Abraham's, so that when we face impossible situations or feelings of weakness, we will not focus on our own limits, but anchor our hearts in You—the Almighty God who brings life out of death and creates out of nothing.

Lord, we pray for our family and friends today, especially those struggling with self-doubt, perfectionism, or seeking true purpose. May Your grace and peace rest upon them, allowing them to experience Your unconditional love. Preserve us as seekers and new believers, causing our faith to grow deep and steady in Your faithfulness every day.

In Jesus' name we pray, Amen!