FAITH THAT BELIEVES GOD'S PROMISES

Passage: Romans 4:13-25

Key verse: 17

NIV

13 It was not through the law that Abraham and his offspring received the promise(A) that he would be heir of the world,(B) but through the righteousness that comes by faith.(C) 14 For if those who depend on the law are heirs, faith means nothing and the promise is worthless,(D) 15 because the law brings wrath.(E) And where there is no law there is no transgression.(F)

16 Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace(G) and may be guaranteed(H) 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.(I) 17 As it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.”[a](J) He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed—the God who gives life(K) to the dead and calls(L) into being things that were not.(M)

18 Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations,(N) just as it had been said to him, “So shall your offspring be.”[b](O) 19 Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead(P)—since he was about a hundred years old(Q)—and that Sarah’s womb was also dead.(R) 20 Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened(S) in his faith and gave glory to God,(T) 21 being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.(U) 22 This is why “it was credited to him as righteousness.”(V) 23 The words “it was credited to him” were written not for him alone, 24 but also for us,(W) to whom God will credit righteousness—for us who believe in him(X) who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.(Y) 25 He was delivered over to death for our sins(Z) and was raised to life for our justification.(AA)

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Footnotes
  1. Romans 4:17 Gen. 17:5
  2. Romans 4:18 Gen. 15:5
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

The Promise Realized Through Faith

13 For (A)the promise to Abraham and his offspring (B)that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith. 14 (C)For if it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void. 15 For (D)the law brings wrath, but (E)where there is no law (F)there is no transgression.

16 That is why it depends on faith, (G)in order that the promise may rest on grace and (H)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, (I)who is the father of us all, 17 as it is written, (J)“I have made you the father of many nations”—in the presence of the God in whom he believed, (K)who gives life to the dead and calls into existence (L)the things that do not exist. 18 In hope he believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been told, (M)“So shall your offspring be.” 19 He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was (N)as good as dead ((O)since he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered (P)the barrenness[a] of Sarah's womb. 20 No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, 21 fully convinced that (Q)God was able to do what he had promised. 22 That is why his faith was “counted to him as righteousness.” 23 But (R)the words “it was counted to him” were not written for his sake alone, 24 but for ours also. It will be counted to us (S)who believe in (T)him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, 25 (U)who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised (V)for our justification.

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Footnotes
  1. Romans 4:19 Greek deadness
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. World mission faith (13-17a)

God promised Abraham that he would be the father of many nations (Ge 17), and that his offspring would be heirs of the world (13). God promised, 'All people on earth will be blessed through you' (Ge 12:3). These promises were fulfilled in Jesus, who died for the sins of the world, and whose gospel of forgiveness and salvation has gone out to the ends of the earth. Abraham had a sense of God's history, and his faith was world mission faith (Gal 3:8).

2. Resurrection faith (17b-25)

Abraham believed in the almighty power of God who gives life to the dead; so he believed that God would give him a son, even though it seemed impossible. He hoped against all hope because he believed that God had the power to do what he promised. When I believe that God raised Jesus from the dead to forgive my sins and give me eternal life, I am walking in the footsteps of Abraham's faith.

Prayer: Lord, teach me resurrection faith so that I can participate in your work of sharing the gospel with the whole world.

One Word: One man of faith