Romans 4:17-25 Click here for Bible Verses
Hi GAMErs!
Today’s passage is Romans 4:17-25. Let’s go!
Romans 4:17 (NIV)
17 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 things that are not as though they were.
On verse 17: God called Abraham a father of many nations (Genesis 17:5) even when Abraham and Sarah had no success bearing even a single child. God specializes in doing the impossible and speaking the possible out of impossible situations. That’s why Paul calls him “the God who gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they were.”
Romans 4:18 (NIV)
18 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.”
On verse 18: It was a risk for Abraham to believe that God could make him the father of many nations despite the circumstances that were against him. But with that risk came a great reward. In the kingdom of God, you’ll find that the level of reward you experience will often be proportional to the level of risk you take.
Romans 4:19-22 (NIV)
19 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.
20 Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God,
21 being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.
22 This is why “it was credited to him as righteousness.”
On verses 19-22: Notice what Paul says in verse 19: “without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact…”. God-pleasing faith is not denying reality or ignoring the facts. You don’t need to forfeit your brain in order for your heart to have God-pleasing faith. God-pleasing faith is acknowledging the fact that there is a problem, but also acknowledging another fact which is that God is greater than the problem and is faithful to fulfill His promise. As verses 20-21 say, Abraham “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.”
You could say that faith is acknowledging all the facts rather than focusing on just those facts that would cause us to lose heart or waver through unbelief. That’s what Abraham did. Abraham did not deny the fact that his body was as good as dead or the fact that Sarah was unable to have children. But Abraham focused even more on another fact: God is faithful to do what He promised. When we have a similar attitude as Abraham in facing challenges, it pleases God. That’s why God credited it to Abraham as righteousness (v22).
Romans 4:23-24 (NIV)
23 The words “it was credited to him” were written not for him alone,
24 but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness–for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.
On verses 23-24: Just as God credited Abraham’s faith as righteousness, so God does the same with us when we believe that God raised Jesus from the dead.
Romans 4:25 (NIV)
25 He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.
On verse 25: Some scholars believe that verse 25 was a song or a creed that the early church would recite. It summarizes the gospel in one short sentence. First it speaks to how Jesus died for our sins so that we could be forgiven. For without Christ’s death, there is no one else to pay for our sins. Second, it speaks to how Jesus was raised to life for our “justification” (that is, so that we could be declared righteous). For Jesus’ resurrection gives us great reason to believe that Jesus is who He says He is, that His words can be trusted and that there is saving power in His name.
Father, thank You for showing me that faith does not mean that I must deny reality or ignore the facts. Rather, it’s about remembering the most important fact: that You are greater than everything and faithful to every promise You make. Thank You that the faith I place in Your Son Jesus You credit to me as righteousness. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!
