Romans 4:13-25
Scripture: Romans 4:13-25 (ESV) “For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith. For if those who are of the law are heirs, faith is made void and the promise is nullified. For the law brings wrath, but where there is no law there is no transgression. That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his offspring—not only to the adherent of the law but also to the one who shares the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all, as it is written, ‘I have made you the father of many nations’—in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist. In hope he believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been told, ‘So shall your offspring be.’ He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead (since he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah’s womb. No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. That is why his faith was ‘counted to him as righteousness.’ But the words ‘it was counted to him’ were not written for his sake alone, but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead, who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.”
Devotion: In a world where contracts are bound by fine print and promises often come with conditions, God’s promise to Abraham is fine-print-free. It was a simple promise that God would make Abraham into a great nation by giving him a son. The promise wasn’t tied to a meticulous observance of laws or rituals, Abraham didn’t have to jump through hoops to receive God’s gift to him. No, this promise was something Abraham received as a gift through faith.
Despite his advanced age and his wife Sarah’s barrenness, Abraham believed God’s promise that he would be the father of many nations. This belief wasn’t a passive wishful thinking but a dynamic, living faith that saw beyond the visible and trusted in the God who “gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist.” Is this how we see God? Do we actually believe that God can bring dead things back to life? Sure, we probably believe that about Jesus, but how far does that faith really stretch?
You see, Paul draws a direct line from Abraham’s faith to ours, reminding us that the same principle of faith applies to us today. The righteousness that was credited to Abraham is also available to us through faith in Jesus Christ. Our faith is rooted not in the promise that God would give us a son, but in the fact that God already gave us His Son. When we believe in Jesus as our Lord and Saviour, we also are declared righteous by God through faith.
That sets us totally free from the burden we might feel to “perform” for God. We are set free from having to carry the weight of trying to live a life righteous enough for God to accept us. We can’t do that anyway – that is why God sent Jesus, so we can be given his perfect life in stead.
That is the essence of the Christian faith. Is that the essence of your faith?
Prayer and Spiritual Challenge for Today:
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Father God, thank You for the example of Abraham’s faith and the promise that You extend to us through faith in Jesus. Help me to trust in Your promises, even when circumstances make them seem impossible. Strengthen my faith to believe not only in Your power but in Your deep love and commitment to fulfilling Your word. May my life reflect the kind of trust that Abraham had, fully convinced that You are able to do what You have promised. Amen.
Challenge for the day: Reflect on an area of your life where you’re struggling to trust God’s promises. It might be a personal issue, a concern for a loved one, or anxiety about the future. Spend some time in prayer, presenting this situation to God and asking for the faith to trust Him as Abraham did. Consider writing down God’s promises that relate to this area of your life and meditating on them throughout the day, reminding yourself of God’s faithfulness and power.