Romans 4:1-25
Overview
To prove his assertion that all men can be justified by grace through faith, Paul used two men as examples in the Old Testament to make his point. These two men were Abraham and David. Abraham was the father of the nation before the giving of the law, and David was the most influential king after the giving of the law. By using these two men as examples of God’s saving grace, no one would be able to argue that Paul had come up with some new teaching that was not based in Scripture. Then at the end of this chapter, Paul will explain some of the most important and practical ways that we can walk in the same footsteps of Abraham’s faith (Rom. 4:16-22).
How was Abraham accounted righteous before God? (Vs. 1-5)
Paul writes, “What then shall we say that Abraham our father has found according to the flesh? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? ‘Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.’ Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt. But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness” (Rom. 4:1-5).
Paul begins by asking this very simple, but vital question for his readers to answer. How was Abraham accounted righteous before God, was it by works, or by faith? Paul states unequivocally that Abraham was accounted righteous by faith apart from any works of the law. He could not have been justified by the law, because it had not yet been given. He then showed a clear hypothetical contrast between faith and works. If he were justified by works, then he would have something to boast about concerning his justification. But that would also mean that God would have owed him his salvation as a reward for his many good deeds. In addition, this would have meant that Abraham’s salvation was given to him not by grace, but as a debt. In other words, Paul is saying that works naturally negate the grace of God, because grace is given as a gift, not as a debt. Consider what heaven would be like if we all could work our way into heaven by our good works? The bragging would never stop! Can you imagine how terrible that would be? I can assure you that there will be no boasting sessions in the presence of God. Heaven, according to Scripture, is going to be what I call, an on-your-face experience. We all will be casting down our crowns before Him, and falling at His feet in humble adoration (Rev. 4:10; 7:11).
How did Paul prove his point?
Notice how Paul proved this truth in verse 3 when he asked the question, “What does the Scripture say?” It is vital to see that Paul immediately looks to the Old Testament Scriptures to prove his point that Abraham was justified by faith. Paul quotes Genesis 15:6, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” This passage absolutely reveals that Abraham, the father of the Jewish nation, was justified by faith alone, and if by faith, then he was also justified by grace. What a glorious truth to know that God’s plan of salvation has always been the same from the beginning of time. God accounted Abraham righteous simply because he believed God’s promise, not because of any work he had performed (Gen. 15:6).
It is well worth noting Paul’s example of cross-referencing his teaching on justification by faith with other Scriptures. If the Apostle Paul used this method to make sure he was teaching good doctrine, so should any teacher of God’s Word. Scripture does not contradict itself. Therefore, always be sure to test your beliefs with other Scriptures, to be certain that your beliefs are in full agreement with the whole counsel of God. The Apostle James acknowledged that looking to other passages was exactly what he did when he considered Peter and Paul’s testimony about God’s intent to save the Gentiles. After He had heard what Paul and Peter had to say he declared, “Men and brethren, listen to me: Simon has declared how God at the first visited the Gentiles to take out of them a people for His name. And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written: ‘After this I will return and will rebuild the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down; I will rebuild its ruins, And I will set it up; so that the rest of mankind may seek the LORD, even all the Gentiles who are called by My name, says the LORD who does all these things” (Acts 15:13-17). Note that James declared that all the things that Peter had said were in full agreement with the prophets. This is why comparing your beliefs with the rest of Scripture is so essential for all who study or teach God’s Word. Paul also believed that he should compare Scripture with Scripture, if he wanted to be sure that he was truly hearing the voice of the Spirit (1 Cor. 2:13). We would do well to do the same!
Never forget that the most important thing is not what I believe, or any human teacher but, “What does the Scripture say?” My opinion, or any man’s opinion is worthless. The sole authority in dealing with your faith or conduct, should be in the Word of God. Jesus said 13 times in the gospels, “have you not read,” or “have you not heard,” when He attempted to point people back to the actual text of Scripture to convince them of the truth. So, do you hear yourself constantly referring to Scripture when you are attempting to convince someone concerning the truth, or are you just sharing your own opinions? All noble and honest hearted people will be just like those in Berea in the New Testament. Note Luke’s observation of these believers. “Then the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. When they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so” (Acts 17:10-11). Therefore, should you not search the Scriptures daily to find out the truth concerning what you are teaching, or what you are being taught?
Did David Work to be Forgiven? (Vs. 6-8)
Paul’s second biblical example was King David, and how he found God’s grace and forgiveness in his life. Paul wrote, “Just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works: ‘Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; blessed is the man to whom the LORD shall not impute sin” (Rom. 4:6-8).
Paul was establishing the fact from Scripture that God forgave David for his lawless deeds, and did not impute sin to his account, after he cried out for mercy. Right after David wrote the statements quoted by Paul in these verses above, he added, “I acknowledged my sin to You, and my iniquity I have not hidden. I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,’ and You forgave the iniquity of my sin” (Ps. 32:5). What works did David do to be forgiven by God? None! He had committed adultery and murder, and knew that he did not deserve God’s forgiveness for these lawless deeds. David knew that he had been forgiven by grace through faith alone. In addition to not imputing sin to David’s account, God in His immeasurable grace actually imputed righteousness to his account. How could this be?
Think about this. If you are a Christian, the same thing has been given to you by God’s grace. First, your sins have been forgiven, because you confessed and acknowledged them before God. Did you do anything to obtain God’s forgiveness? No! You simply came by faith and received His forgiveness. The operative word here is received. I have made this point before, that forgiveness is not something that you can ever achieve, it must be received! This was the message that Paul was given to preach to the world. Jesus told Paul on the road to Damascus, “But rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you. I will deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, to whom I now send you, to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me” (Acts 26:16-18). Note that Jesus said that people were to, “Receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.” What an incredible blessing! They were not only to receive forgiveness, but they were also to be given an inheritance, if they would only believe in Him. Part of this inheritance, which I will explain next, is to be justified in Christ, which means that Jesus has imputed His righteousness to our account.
The second thing we receive by grace is to be justified and declared righteous in God’s sight. In Romans 4:5, Paul plainly stated that God, “Justifies the ungodly.” That means for all who are reading these words, if you have acknowledged your sin to Him and asked for His forgiveness, you have been justified in His sight. As I have already explained, to be justified in God’s sight means that He has imputed and granted by His grace, His own righteousness to your account. This word impute is used eleven times in this chapter and is translated accounted, counted, or imputed. To impute is an accounting word that means to credit something to your spiritual account in God’s sight. This means that the Lord has debited your account of your sin, and credited you with the righteousness of Jesus Christ. If you truly understand this biblical truth, you will never again try to work to deserve His free gift. You will simply rejoice and thank Him forever that by His grace He has given you this incredible gift of righteousness (Rom. 5:17)! Does the Scripture teach this truth anywhere else? Yes! Paul wrote, “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Cor. 5:21). Paul wrote again, “And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight” (Col. 1:21-22). Wow, is this not the most awesome love and grace that could ever be offered to sinful men? Yes, it is!
Is this righteousness given only to the Jews, or is it given also to the Gentiles? (Vs. 9-12)
Paul answers this question by explaining, “Does this blessedness then come upon the circumcised only, or upon the uncircumcised also? For we say that faith was accounted to Abraham for righteousness. How then was it accounted? While he was circumcised, or uncircumcised? Not while circumcised, but while uncircumcised. And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while still uncircumcised, that he might be the father of all those who believe, though they are uncircumcised, that righteousness might be imputed to them also, and the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also walk in the steps of the faith which our father Abraham had while still uncircumcised” (Rom. 4:9-12).
In verses 1-8, Paul has clarified how righteousness was credited to Abraham and David apart from any good works that they had done. Now Paul goes a little further in his explanation concerning when righteousness was given to Abraham. Was he accounted righteous before he was circumcised, or after? It is clear from Scripture that Abraham believed God, and he was accounted righteous before he had fulfilled the rite of circumcision. You can easily determine this fact from Genesis 15:6, and Genesis 17:24. These two events would have been approximately 10-20 years apart from each other. Therefore, Abraham was technically accounted righteous while he was still a Gentile. This fact would have presented a real problem for those who believed that no one could be declared righteous before God without first being circumcised, and also for those who did not believe the Gentiles could be saved.
Of course, the Jew would naturally have asked what good the rite of circumcision was, if it had nothing to do with salvation? Paul explained that the rite of circumcision was simply an outward sign of the covenant before God. The word sign means a mark, token, or an authenticating stamp. It is very similar to a wedding ring, which is a token, or mark of the enduring pledge two people make on their wedding day. The ring doesn’t make these two people married; it is only a sign that they are husband and wife. Likewise for Christians today, baptism is a similar sign, and a token that you have given your life to Jesus Christ. Baptism is equally a sign and seal of the righteousness of faith given to every believer. But remember, the work of baptism cannot save us any more than the work of circumcision could save a Jew. Salvation is by grace through faith alone (Eph. 2:8-9)!
However, today the church over-emphasizes baptism, just as the Jews did circumcision. Many believe that unless you are baptized a certain way, by their church, by their elders, or sprinkled a certain way with the right words spoken over you, you are not saved. Let me assure you, you can be saved without being baptized. The thief on the cross next to Jesus was never baptized, yet Christ told this man that he would be with Him in Paradise that very day. This is why we can all be absolutely sure that baptism is not essential for salvation. If you doubt this fact, go back to Romans 3:28 where Paul first asserted that, “A man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law.” No work can ever justify you before a holy God. Neither is there any divine ordinance that can justify you from your sin. Only faith in the risen Savior can do that. Baptism has nothing to do with your salvation. Baptism is simply an outward sign of your faith within, and is a declaration of what you already have chosen to believe in your heart.
An additional proof of this fact is found in Colossians 2:9-12 where Paul declares, “In Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power. In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.” How are we complete in Him? Note that Paul explained that because we are “in Him,” the work of circumcision and baptism has already been accomplished within us. Our old sinful nature has been cut away and circumcised from us, and it has been buried with Christ once and for all. How has this occurred? It occurred because you put your faith in the work that God did by raising Christ from the dead. Later in this epistle Paul will say plainly what actually saves us. He will assure us that, “If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved” (Rom. 10:9). It is also vital that you realize that Paul equates these two religious rites of circumcision and baptism in this text in Colossians. Both Jew and Gentile become complete in Christ by the work made without hands within the hearts of all who believe.
But you may be thinking, What about 1 Peter 3:21 where it declares, “There is also an antitype which now saves us--baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ?” The baptism that Peter is referring to in this text is clearly stated. This baptism was not the outward cleansing and removal of the filth of the flesh, or an external washing of your body, but a good conscience toward God through the resurrection of Jesus. This is the baptism that Peter declares is essential. How does someone get a good conscience before God? Through faith and repentance in the resurrected Christ.
But you may also ask, “If baptism doesn’t save a person is there any need for someone to get baptized?” Yes, by all means. All believers should be baptized in obedience to the command of Christ. Jesus commanded the disciples to baptize all new converts (Matt 28:19-20). Peter also preached this same message on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:38).
In addition, for Christians, you should get baptized because these actions are to be a reminder of what God has done in your life. This religious observance is much like communion. Jesus said to His disciples on that last night with them as He took the bread in His hand, He told them, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me” (Luke 22:19). Jesus explained that His purpose for communion was to have them, “do this in remembrance of Me.” Communion cannot save you, but it should remind you of what He has done for you. Communion instructs and reminds you that He gave His body and blood to redeem you, and He does not want you to ever forget this fact. This is also what circumcision was to be for the Jews, a reminder that flesh must be cut away from their lives if they were to follow God.
The father of all who believe.
Therefore, if Abraham was declared righteous before he was circumcised, then he has become the father of the circumcision (Jews), and also the father of all the uncircumcised (Gentiles) who walk in the steps of Abraham’s faith (v. 12). The only question is, do you believe God’s promise that He will forgive and justify the ungodly simply by faith, apart from any work that you can do? If you do believe these truths, then you are walking in the steps of Abraham, and he is your spiritual father too.
Believing the promise (Vs. 13-15)
Paul now addresses the fact that God’s gift of righteousness is only given when someone believes the promise of God. Paul declared, “For the promise that he would be the heir of the world was not to Abraham or to his seed 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 made of no effect, because the law brings about wrath; for where there is no law there is no transgression” (Rom. 4:13-15).
In verses 1-8 Paul has explained that God’s righteousness is given apart from works, but in these verses, he adds that righteousness is given apart from the law. What is the difference between a promise and the law? A promise needs faith, but the law requires works. Abraham became the heir of God’s promises by faith, and not by works of the law. If a person can gain the promises by works then faith has been made void and is then unnecessary. Why? Because your faith should be based on the faithfulness of the one who promised. How faithful is the God who promised Abraham that He would give him a child from the fruit of his own body? He is as faithful as the sun that appears every morning on the horizon. He is as faithful as the appearance of the full moon every month. This is why the psalmist declared, “Your faithfulness You shall establish in the very heavens” (Ps. 89:2). This is why we all must trust God’s Word, because faithful is He who promised!
You must remember, if you try and work to deserve a promise, this demonstrates that you really don’t believe the one who made the pledge. For example, if you told me, “I promise to drive you to the airport tomorrow,” and then walked into my house and you heard me anxiously calling everyone I know to obtain a ride, what would you think? Wouldn’t you obviously conclude that I didn’t really believe your promise to take me to the airport? Therefore, if you truly believe God’s promise, then you will cease from your self-effort to obtain what He has already promised. You will simply trust Him to do what He has said. This is the rest of faith spoken of in Scripture, where the apostle wrote, “For we who have believed do enter that rest” (Heb. 4:3).
Therefore, don’t void your faith by trying to obtain God’s blessings by the law, which is always based in self-effort. Paul further explained that the law only brings wrath. Why? Because, as we studied earlier in this epistle that the law only revealed God’s righteous requirements, but gave no power to an individual to obey them. Consequently, a person would fail to keep these requirements, and thus only bring wrath upon himself. Paul said that the “strength of sin is the Law,” which means that the harder you try to keep the law, the stronger your sin nature fights against you (1 Cor. 15:56). Only by believing God’s promise will you experience the power of the Holy Spirit who will help you to obey His Word. The opposite takes place when you try and keep the law through self-effort. Why? Self-only strengthens sins grip upon you. Therefore, believe God’s promise and renounce self-effort!
Paul’s conclusion is very simple. If you come to God based on your obedience to the law, any religious ritual, or any good work, your faith is made void, and you make the promise of God of no effect. The word void in this passage, is a Greek word that means empty or hollow (Vs. 14). The words of no effect, mean to render powerless or to make something inoperative. Therefore, all who come to God on the basis of law and self-effort, in reality have empty or hollow faith, and they have rendered powerless and inoperative the promise of God. This is not something you want to do! Come to Him by faith, and trust that He is faithful to keep His Word to you.
What are the lessons we can learn from Abraham’s faith (Vs. 16-22)
Paul writes, “Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be sure to all the seed, 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 (as it is written, ‘I have made you a father of many nations’) in the presence of Him whom he believed--God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did; who, contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, ‘So shall your descendants be.’ And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb. He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. And therefore ‘it was accounted to him for righteousness.’” (Rom. 4:16-22).
In these passages Paul gives us some very practical and simple lessons in faith. Remember that in verse 12, Paul declared that God’s righteousness is given to those who walk in the footsteps of Abraham’s faith. This means that you need to know what these footsteps of Abraham’s faith are, and how to apply them to your walk with Christ. Paul now explains what these principles of faith are, so you may walk in them.
First, faith alone activates the grace of God. (Vs. 16).
The word “it,” in verse 16 refers to the promise of God. This means that only faith in the promise of God will activate the grace of God, and what will enable a person to inherit a promise. Only faith enables the promise of God to be sure to all those who come to Him, and are looking to receive the promise of God. The Greek word sure in this verse means to be trustworthy, firm, or secure. In other words, only those who come to God in faith can be confident that they will experience the fulfillment of the promise of God. Therefore, faith allowed God’s grace to make secure the promise made to Abraham. Your faith will also make God’s promises to you sure and secure.
However, if you want to frustrate and hinder the grace of God in your life, all you have to do is try to deserve what He has promised. If you haven’t been receiving much grace, or lately have not seen the promises of God fulfilled in your life, you have probably been trying to merit, earn, or achieve these gifts in some way. You can only receive the promise of grace by faith alone. Consider how you received the greatest promise concerning the grace of your own salvation. Was it not by grace through faith alone? Paul wrote, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast” (Eph. 2:8-9). Therefore, only faith alone in God’s promise is what activated God’s grace to save you. If you want to experience more of the grace of God in your life, simply trust Him, ask Him to fill you with His Spirit, and watch what He will do within you.
Second, faith is activated by what God has spoken. Abraham’s faith in verses 17 and 18 was based on what God had spoken in His promise to him. God had promised Abraham a child, and he put his faith in what God had said, not in what he felt or saw. He believed what God had spoken even though the child did not exist, neither did he see his wife pregnant. Faith was then activated not by what Abraham saw, but what God had promised. He believed the promise because His faith was based on the faithfulness of the one who has promised (Heb. 11:11). This is why Paul will say later in this epistle, “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Rom. 10:17).
You see this same truth exampled in the life of Mary when she was told by the Angel Gabriel that she was to have a child. She said, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?” Gabriel assured her that it would all take place by the power of the Holy Spirit. What was her response? She said, “Let it be to me according to your word” (Luke 1:34-38). In other words, Mary declared, “I will believe according to your word. You have promised it, and I believe it!”
Is this the way you believe? Is this the way you pray? Do you believe God’s Word simply because He is the one who said it? Are you standing on what He has spoken, or only on what you can feel or see? These are the footsteps of Abraham’s faith, because he believed what God had said.
Third, faith believes in the God who calls things that do not exist as though they were. Vs. 17
All faith deals with things that we do not see, and that do not yet exist. If you saw them, you would not need to trust Him for them. All faith deals with the future promises of God that have not yet been revealed, and have not yet been given. This is what was happening with Abraham who had no descendants, or even the prospects of even one child on the horizon. But he trusted the God who knew the future and spoke of things that did not exist at the moment. The thousands of futuristic prophecies that are given in the Bible are each declaring things that did not exist at that moment, but God spoke of them as though they already existed, and as if they had already been accomplished. When God spoke concerning the Babylonians 150 years before they would come to destroy the nation Israel, He declared, “Indeed I have spoken it; I will also bring it to pass. I have purposed it; I will also do it” (Is. 46:11). This is why you should trust the only One who knows the future! Trust that He knows what He is talking about.
Fourth, faith and hope always work together. (Vs. 18) Another footstep of Abraham’s faith was hope. The apostle declared that, “Faith is the conviction of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Heb. 11:1). What is hope? It is the confident expectation of what God has spoken, that it will come to pass just as He said. Where do you get hope? Hope, just like faith, comes directly from the promises of God’s Word. Later in this epistle Paul will declare, “For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope” (Rom. 15:4). Here is another very important reason why it is so important to read and search the Scriptures daily. A simple solution to discouragement and depression is to read God’s Word. This is where you will find hope and the strength to trust the Lord again. Because Abraham did not have the Bible as we do today, when he was doubtful concerning the promised child, God would come to him and speak to him another promise. These promises of God caused him to hope and ultimately to trust again. Notice that it declares that Abraham “who, contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, so shall your descendants be” (Vs. 18). Therefore, if you desire to walk in the footsteps of Abraham’s faith, hope in His promises. This will require you to hope and believe contrary to what you see.
Fifth, faith doesn’t consider human abilities. (Vs. 18-19) The next principal of Abraham’s faith is found in verses 18-19. Paul declared that Abraham, “did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb.” In other words, he did not consider the human abilities required to obtain the child God had promised him. However, weak faith is swayed into unbelief as it begins to consider its own human abilities. What God seeks to teach each of us concerning the trials that we all face each day is to only consider what He has promised, and what He is able to do. But this is where we all stumble so often. We read God’s promises, but then we think, No way. This is impossible. This couldn’t really happen, as we look at the problems before us. If you hear yourself saying, “this is impossible,” then it surely will be impossible for you to receive God’s promise, because you are not believing His Word. Jesus said, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes” (Mark 9:23). You must go back to the promise of God, and trust what He has said.
The sixth lesson we can learn is that God can strengthen your faith, and fully convince you as He did Abraham. Vs. 20-21 Paul stated that Abraham, “Did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform” (Rom. 4:20-21). This passage is hard to understand when you read the full account of Abraham’s struggle to believe God’s promise for the child that would be given, because both he and Sarah did waver at the promise of God. So how can Paul make this statement? I believe that Paul was looking at the end result of their 25-year struggle in faith. This is why Paul declared that Abraham was strengthened, and became fully convinced of God’s promise. To be strengthened and fully convinced required a process of time and God working in their lives. This fact is reassuring to me, because God is doing the same thing in my life. He is daily attempting to strengthen and fully convince me of His promises. Why do I say this? At times we all waver in our faith as we violate the principles outlined in these verses. But God is faithful and attempts to strengthen our faith through His encouragement. When Abraham wavered in his faith, God continued to work with him to fully convince him of the promise, and of His ability as the One who promised. How did God do this? God repeatedly came back to Abraham and Sarah to reprove them for their unbelief, and then encouraged them to trust His promise. God’s original promise to give Abraham descendants is found in Genesis 12:1-3. Then God reinforced this promise in Genesis 13:14-16; 15:1-6; 17:2; 17:9; 17:19; 18:10-15. Through these constant reassurances given to Abraham and Sarah, they finally became fully convinced that, “what He had promised He was also able to perform.”
Therefore, if you want your faith strengthened, get into God’s Word on a regular basis, and let those promises sink into your heart and mind. Remember the example in Mark 9:24, of the man who cried out, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief.” That man had a portion of faith, but needed his faith strengthened. Note that the Lord answered this man’s prayer. Sometimes we think that we must have perfect faith before God will answer. This is not true, and this man’s struggle in faith is the best example of this truth. This man, and Abraham and Sarah, are proof that God will help you in your struggle of faith if you will simply cry out for His grace and help. Ask Him to strengthen you today, and to convince you concerning His promises. He is faithful to do it.
Seventh, faith will praise and rejoice. In verse 20, Paul declared that Abraham gave glory to God. The easiest way to know if you truly believe what you are asking for is if you can thank God in advance for the fulfillment. Simply pray, and then begin to rejoice in faith, and thank Him because you know that He is handling the need that you have set before Him. In Psalm 33:21, David declared “Our heart shall rejoice in Him, because we have trusted in His holy Name.” When you truly trust Him, you will rejoice and thank Him, because you trust that He hears you, and is at work at that very moment. Therefore, do you thank the Lord immediately after you have asked Him for something? This is what it means to believe His promise. Consider forgiveness. Since God has promised to forgive you of your sins when you ask Him, aren’t you confident that He will (1 John 1:9)? If you are confident, then you should thank Him immediately for that forgiveness? Why can you be assured of this fact? Again, it is because Jesus has promised, “Ask, and it will be given to you” (Matt. 7:7). Remember, thanksgiving is a requirement for all believing prayer (Phil. 4:6).
The last lesson to learn is that faith believes that God is able to do what He has promised. In verse 21, Paul explained that Abraham became fully persuaded that what God, “had promised He was also able to perform” (Rom. 4:21). This is another essential key if you want to walk in the steps of Abraham’s faith. He became fully convinced that what God had promised, He was also able to do. How did God convince him? In one of the last encouragements to Abraham God asked him, “Is anything too hard for the LORD? At the appointed time I will return to you, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son” (Gen. 18:14). God directed Abraham to consider His ability to do what He had promised. Overcoming faith is always based on what you believe God is able to do. When you are struggling in faith, just compare the greatness of God’s ability with the smallness of your problem or need. This should strengthen your faith and lift you out of your unbelief. When the disciples were being threatened and persecuted after the Lord had ascended into heaven, notice how they addressed the Lord in their prayer. “So when they heard that, they raised their voice to God with one accord and said: ‘Lord, You are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them’” (Acts 4:24). Do you address the Lord this way? Remember, fixing your attention on who you are addressing is critical if you want your faith to grow!
The application (Verses 23-25)
We have just studied the steps of Abraham’s faith. So how can you apply these truths in your life? Paul stated that because Abraham believed God, he was declared righteous. He is our example. When you first came to Christ, you heard a promise; the Lord would forgive and save you if you would just believe in Him and ask for His free gift. You believed this promise in spite of all that you had done to rebel, and the many ways you had failed to obey Him. That means that you also have this same faith as Abraham, because this is exactly what he did.
Do you understand that all that happened to Abraham was to be an example for us. It was not written to be a nice story to entertain us. Abraham was called out of his sinful lifestyle and idol worship, just as you also were called. You have chosen to follow Him, turn from your idols, and walk after Him into a new life of faith. You are following Him to the promised land of victory in Christ, even though you don’t fully understand how you will get there. You are believing the promises that God has made, even though you wonder how He can do all that He has promised. You don’t understand it all, yet you still believe. The Lord is strengthening your faith, and fully convincing you as you follow Him step by step. As you follow Him you become more and more convinced that what He has promised, He is also able to perform. Therefore, the righteousness that was imputed to Abraham has also been imputed to you (Vs. 24).
Finally, in verse 25, Paul leaves us with the reminder of how the work of salvation takes place. Christ was delivered for our offenses, and was raised up again as proof that God keeps His promises, and that the sacrifice of Jesus was acceptable. This is also our assurance that He will keep His promise to each of us who believe, and the assurance that He has justified us from our sin. So, keep walking in the footsteps of Abraham’s faith, learn the lessons that he learned, and watch how God will reveal Himself and His power in your life!