Romans 4:16-25 Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring—not only to those who are of the law but also to those who have the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all. As it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.” He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed—the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being things that were not. Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah’s womb was also dead. Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. This is why “it was credited to him as righteousness.” The words “it was credited to him” were written not for him alone, but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness—for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.
We who believe by faith in the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being things that were not are Abraham’s children. We are his children because we are people of faith: For we walk by faith, not by sight. (2 Corinthians 5:7) Abraham did not waver in his belief of the God of enormous creative powers, even in raising people from the dead. Of course, we know Jesus was raised from the dead, and by faith we believe in his resurrection from the grave by the power of the Holy Spirit. Abraham’s faith in this God of enormous power did not falter because he did not doubt God. Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. What did God promise to Abraham? God promised to Abraham: I have made you NOW a father of many nations. By faith Abraham received immediate transformation from a person dead in his body unable to produce children to a father of many nations in the NOW. God made Abraham a new creature by the act of faith that Abraham possessed in God’s creative powers. Abraham did not have to wait to be the father of many nations: no, God said he IS the father of many nations. Abraham was fully persuaded that God keeps his word, that God’s words create new things out of the old. Of course, Abraham was very old; Sarah was very old. In the normal turn of events, nothing new could come from Sarah’s womb. The natural man with his or her knowledge could fully understand the reality of such a situation. But Abraham believed God regardless of the facts of his life. He could say with the psalmist: I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. (Psalm 34:4) Abraham believed in a reality beyond what he saw with his eyes.
Despite their faith, sometimes the natural consequences of life doom people into believing they have no hope. We see this often in the New Testament when Jesus deals with the blind, the deformed, and even the dead, those who have no hope. For them, where is this God who gives life to the dead and calls into being things that were not? Where is the God who corrects what has been damaged or destroyed? Human survival beyond a prescribed number of years is a condition with no hope. Chronic or terminal health problems are situations with no hope. The condition of man’s wickedness and destruction is one with no hope. Abraham faced the same difficulties of no hope because his body could not father children; yet God promised that his progeny would be as plentiful as the stars. God said to him, now you are the father of many nations. Not tomorrow, not the next day, but now you ARE THE FATHER OF MANY NATIONS. Abraham believed God and never wavered. In fact, he was strengthened in his faith as the years went by, even in the dire circumstance when God tested his faith by asking for Issac’s life as a sacrifice. Abraham said, God will provide. Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, “Father?” “Yes, my son?” Abraham replied. “The fire and wood are here,” Isaac said, “but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?” Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” And the two of them went on together. (Genesis 22:7-8) God will provide the lamb, for God keeps his promises. Abraham did not allow his natural knowledge or wisdom to mar God’s promise to him. We often find faith difficult when adverse winds blow against the promises God has given us. How awful it is when hope goes out of our sails, we sit in the doldrums, and life’s answers escape us. That is when we must go to God’s Word to rediscover God’s promises for those who live by faith. For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. (Romans 8:14-17) We are God’s children NOW, co-heirs with Christ NOW. Regardless of our circumstances, God has provided a sacrifice, the LAMB OF GOD. The mountains we are climbing might seem steep, the cost too much, but God is saying, my daughter, my son of faith, I have already provided for you. Do not fear. Look to Jesus, your loving Savior.
Sometimes, life seems too difficult, too overwhelming. The mountains in life seem too rugged, too high. Where are you God? I do not know where you are—I cannot find you. I do not know how to live now. That is when the faith of Abraham overcomes the world, when we believe God is the one who raises the dead, who creates everything out of nothing: no elements, no matter, nothing. Yes, He is that God, the beginning and the ending. We can trust him in everything. As the Bible says, Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. (1 Peter 5:7) As our personal God, He keeps his promises. What promises? My child, you are mine. I have given you life, and I will perfect MY WORK in you. This is why we must believe God can use everything in our lives. Abraham was prepared in the natural to fulfill God’s requirements of him: The fire and wood are here. In spite of the circumstances, he believed God had made him a father of many nations. He could see with his natural eyes that Issac was the first step in fulfilling that promise. However, if necessary, Abraham was willing to give up the hope in the natural for the work of God in his life. Sometimes, we need to give up on hope in the natural for the work of God in our lives. When things do not turn out the way we want or desire, we need to turn back to God and say: I will trust you, Lord, for I know that it is your work, not mine. I will let you make the decisions for me. I will do everything possible to live the life you have directed me to live. I will place myself under your authority, for I know you have made me your child. You have revealed your great power through Jesus Christ and his righteousness. I am alive because of that work. Now, Lord, let your Spirit comfort my soul. I need your help, oh God, to live this life. Children of faith, at the top of the mountain, you will find that God has provided for you. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered. ”NO, IN ALL THESE THINGS WE ARE MORE THAN CONQUERORS through him who loved us. (Romans 8:35-37) Knowing you have the faith of Abraham, rejoice!
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