Abraham: The Father of All Who Have Faith (Romans 4:9-25)…
Abraham is often referred to as the “father of faith” because he is seen as a model of belief in God, whose faith was credited to him as righteousness.
Romans 4:16-25
New Living Translation
16 So the promise is received by faith. It is given as a free gift. And we are all certain to receive it, whether or not we live according to the law of Moses, if we have faith like Abraham’s. For Abraham is the father of all who believe.
17 That is what the Scriptures mean when God told him, “I have made you the father of many nations.” This happened because Abraham believed in the God who brings the dead back to life and who creates new things out of nothing.
18 Even when there was no reason for hope, Abraham kept hoping—believing that he would become the father of many nations. For God had said to him, “That’s how many descendants you will have!”
19 And Abraham’s faith did not weaken, even though, at about 100 years of age, he figured his body was as good as dead—and so was Sarah’s womb.
20 Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God.
21 He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever He promises.
22 And because of Abraham’s faith, God counted him as righteous.
23 And when God counted him as righteous, it wasn’t just for Abraham’s benefit.
It was recorded 24 for our benefit, too, assuring us that God will also count us as righteous if we believe in Him, the one who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.
25 He was handed over to die because of our sins, and He was raised to life to make us right with God.
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First off we can know that because Abraham was called and credited with righteousness while a Gentile, it is clear that both Gentiles and Jews are justified the same way: by faith.
Paul explains that Abraham had pleased God through faith alone before he had ever heard about the rituals that would become so important to the Jewish people.
We, too, are saved by faith plus nothing.
We are not saved by loving God and doing good; neither are we saved by faith plus love or by faith plus good deeds.
We are saved ONLY through faith in Jesus Christ—trusting Him to forgive all our sins.
The promise (covenant) God gave Abraham stated that Abraham would be the father of many nations (Genesis 17:2-4) and that the entire world would be blessed through him (Genesis 12:3).
This promise was fulfilled in Jesus Christ.
Jesus was from Abraham’s line, and truly the whole world was and continues to be blessed through Him.
Abraham never doubted that God would fulfill His promise.
Abraham’s life was marked by mistakes, sins, and failures as well as by wisdom and goodness, but he consistently trusted God.
His faith was strengthened by the obstacles he faced, and his life was an example of faith in action.
If he had looked only at his own resources for subduing Canaan and founding a nation, he would have given up in despair.
But Abraham looked to God, obeyed Him, and waited for God to fulfill His Word.
When we trust in Jesus Christ as Savior, an exchange takes place.
We give Christ our sins, and He gives us His righteousness and forgiveness (see 2 Corinthians 5:21).
There is nothing we can do to earn this. Only through Christ can we be made right in God’s eyes.
What an incredible bargain this is for us! But sadly, many still choose to pass up this gift and continue to live their own way, apart from God.
Faith requires that we cast the whole of our trust and reliability upon God and His Word, regardless of any and all negative / contradictory feelings and /or circumstances.
SELAH (let us pause and calmly think about these things)
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Wednesday, Sept 10
WALKING IN SUPERNATURAL HOPE
by Keith Butler
“Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be” (Romans 4:18)
In the absence of all natural hope, Abraham continued to believe. How did he do that?
He had the promise. He had the Word of God. God told him that he would have a son.
So his name must be changed from Abram to Abraham, meaning father of a great multitude.Well, if you are going to receive what Jesus has done for you, seed of Abraham, then you must first find out what the Word says on the subject.
Then every time you run up against something, you must read what God said about it.
Do it even when all natural hope is gone. This is how you will find supernatural hope from the Word when natural hope is gone.
Don’t consider the circumstances. Don’t consider the bankbook. Don’t consider the doctor’s report. Don’t consider what people say, because people talk junk all the time.
But they don’t have any authority behind it.
Jesus gave the authority to you.
Don’t be shaken by what you are looking at. Don’t allow it to get to you.
Be strong in faith and prove it by giving God the glory that your need is already met.
Give God the glory that you are blessed in the city and blessed in the field.
Praise God that all your needs are met.
Praise is an expression of faith in God.
Praising God builds your faith. Praising God shuts the devil’s mouth.
Praising God causes others to praise God too.
When you praise God you cannot lose. The devil has to run, because he gets confused.
So, never forget who you are.
Through faith in Jesus you are the one who possesses the enemy’s gate.
You are the one through whom all families of the earth shall be blessed, as you share the good news that the price has already been paid.
You have the message of reconciliation, which is that God was in Christ restoring the world to favor with Himself.
He is not counting against men their trespasses, but has cancelled them, and committed to us the word of reconciliation to favor with God.
Abraham received his miracle – a son. And when you operate in supernatural hope, you shall see your miracle as well.
[From: Keith Butler Ministries]
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