Single lesson
Romans 4: Abraham Justified by Faith
Romans 4:1–12; Romans 4:13–25
Romans 4 uses Abraham to teach that righteousness is counted through faith, not earned by works. This lesson helps children trace Paul’s argument, notice repeated words, and respond by remembering what God promises and what faith does.
Before you teach
In these verses, Paul asks what Abraham found, quotes Scripture about Abraham believing God, and compares wages with grace. He also brings in David’s words about forgiven sin, then explains Abraham received circumcision as a sign after faith was counted to him. The passage then links God’s promise, Abraham’s trust, and belief in Jesus’ death and resurrection.
Students will be able to explain from Romans 4 that Abraham was counted righteous by faith, that this came before circumcision, and that the passage points believers to trust God who raised Jesus.
Welcome: Hear the big idea
4 minSay the theme simply: in Romans 4, Paul teaches that Abraham was counted righteous because he believed God. Write three words where children can see them: faith, promise, counted. Explain that “counted” here means credited or recognised by God, and we will look for how often Paul repeats that idea through the passage.
Romans 4:3, Romans 4:5, Romans 4:9, Romans 4:22
Read and explain: Faith, not earning
8 minRead Romans 4:1-8 aloud. Explain the contrast Paul makes. Wages are owed to a worker, but righteousness is not described here as something people earn. Instead, Paul says Abraham believed God, and David speaks of the blessing of forgiveness and sins not being charged. Keep the focus on what the verses actually say about believing, grace and forgiveness.
Romans 4:2, Romans 4:3, Romans 4:4, Romans 4:5, Romans 4:7, Romans 4:8
Discuss: Before circumcision, for all who believe
6 minRead Romans 4:9-17. Help children notice Paul’s timing question. Abraham was counted righteous before circumcision, and circumcision is called a sign and a seal. Then show Paul’s conclusion: the promise is through the righteousness of faith, so it may be according to grace and sure to all the offspring who share Abraham’s faith.
Romans 4:9, Romans 4:10, Romans 4:11, Romans 4:13, Romans 4:16, Romans 4:17
Make and respond: Promise reminder card
8 minChoose one short verse or phrase from the passage together, such as “Abraham believed God” or “giving glory to God”. Children make a small reminder card and draw one symbol tied to the words in Romans 4, such as a gift for grace, a tick or stamp for “counted”, or an upward arrow for God raising Jesus. As they work, discuss how Abraham looked to God’s promise and was assured God could do what he promised.
Romans 4:3, Romans 4:20, Romans 4:21, Romans 4:24
Closing: From Abraham to Jesus
4 minRead Romans 4:23-25 to finish. Explain that Paul says Abraham’s story was written not for him alone but also for those who believe in God who raised Jesus. Invite each child to say one thing they learned: faith, promise, forgiveness, or resurrection. End by repeating the lesson goal together in one sentence.
Romans 4:23, Romans 4:24, Romans 4:25
Questions to explore
What example does Paul use to show the difference between earning and receiving by grace?
Look at the contrast between a worker being owed wages and a person who believes God being counted righteous.
Romans 4:4, Romans 4:5
Why does Paul ask whether Abraham was counted righteous before or after circumcision?
Follow Paul’s answer carefully and notice what circumcision is called after faith had already been counted.
Romans 4:9, Romans 4:10, Romans 4:11
What does Abraham’s faith look like in Romans 4:18-21?
Find the words that describe how he responded to God’s promise and what he believed God was able to do.
Romans 4:18, Romans 4:20, Romans 4:21
Make, think or respond
Faith and Promise Reminder Card
What you’ll need
- paper or card
- pencils or textas
- Bible
- scissors
Try it together
- Read Romans 4:3, Romans 4:20 or Romans 4:24 and let the group choose one key line or phrase.
- Fold or cut paper into small cards.
- On one side, write the chosen words clearly.
- On the other side, draw a simple symbol tied to the words in the passage, such as a gift for grace, a tick or stamp for 'counted', or an upward arrow for God raising Jesus.
- Take turns explaining how the card connects to Abraham believing God and trusting his promise.
The card helps children remember that Romans 4 repeats faith, God’s promise, grace, and God raising Jesus.
Adapt for your group
- For younger children, shorten the reading to selected verses and let them repeat key words aloud each time they hear faith, promise or counted.
- For older or confident readers, ask them to sort verses into two groups: verses about works and law, and verses about faith and promise.
An optional closing prayer
You could pray: “Dear God, thank you for your grace. Please help us understand what this passage says about faith, your promise, and Jesus our Lord raised from the dead. Amen.”
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
Romans 4
1 What then will we say that Abraham, our forefather, has found according to the flesh?
2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not toward God.
3 For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.”
4 Now to him who works, the reward is not counted as grace, but as something owed.
5 But to him who doesn’t work, but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness.
6 Even as David also pronounces blessing on the man to whom God counts righteousness apart from works:
7 “Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, whose sins are covered.
8 Blessed is the man whom the Lord will by no means charge with sin.”
9 Is this blessing then pronounced only on the circumcised, or on the uncircumcised also? For we say that faith was accounted to Abraham for righteousness.
10 How then was it counted? When he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision.
11 He received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while he was in uncircumcision, that he might be the father of all those who believe, though they might be in uncircumcision, that righteousness might also be accounted to them.
12 He is the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had in uncircumcision.
13 For the promise to Abraham and to his offspring that he would be heir of the world wasn’t through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.
14 For if those who are of the law are heirs, faith is made void, and the promise is made of no effect.
15 For the law produces wrath; for where there is no law, neither is there disobedience.
16 For this cause it is of faith, that it may be according to grace, to the end that the promise may be sure to all the offspring, 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 you a father of many nations.” This is in the presence of him whom he believed: God, who gives life to the dead, and calls the things that are not, as though they were.
18 Against hope, Abraham in hope believed, to the end that he might become a father of many nations, according to that which had been spoken, “So will your offspring be.”
19 Without being weakened in faith, he didn’t consider his own body, already having been worn out, (he being about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb.
20 Yet, looking to the promise of God, he didn’t waver through unbelief, but grew strong through faith, giving glory to God,
21 and being fully assured that what he had promised, he was also able to perform.
22 Therefore it also was “credited to him for righteousness.”
23 Now it was not written that it was accounted to him for his sake alone,
24 but for our sake also, to whom it will be accounted, who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead,
25 who was delivered up for our trespasses, and was raised for our justification.
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.