STUDIES IN ROMANS

LESSON 18

FAITH = THE PROMISE – PART 3

Romans 4:17-25 (KJV)

¹⁷ (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.¹⁸ 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. ¹⁹ And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb: ²⁰ He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; ²¹ And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. ²² And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.

Romans 4:17-25 (CEB)

¹⁷ As it is written: I have appointed you to be the father of many nations.^[a] So Abraham is our father in the eyes of God in whom he had faith, the God who gives life to the dead and calls things that don’t exist into existence. ¹⁸ When it was beyond hope, he had faith in the hope that he would become the father of many nations, in keeping with the promise God spoke to him: That’s how many descendants you will have.^{[b] 19} Without losing faith, Abraham, who was nearly 100 years old, took into account his own body, which was as good as dead, and Sarah’s womb, which was dead. ²⁰ He didn’t hesitate with a lack of faith in God’s promise, but he grew strong in faith and gave glory to God. ²¹ He was fully convinced that God was able to do what he promised. ²² Therefore, it was credited to him as righteousness.

1.    RE-CAP v.17

2.    AGAINST HOPE BELIEVED IN HOPE v.18

Ø  CEB – beyond hope yet believed

Ø  According to that which was spoken (by God)

3.    NOT WEAK IN FAITH v.19

Ø  Didn’t consider his age or Sarah’s or that Sarah couldn’t produce children

4.    STAGGERED NOT v.20-21

Ø  Believed God’s promise

Ø  Strong in faith (CEB – grew strong in faith)

Ø  Gave glory to God

Ø  Fully convinced god would do what He said He would do

5.    THEREFORE IT WAS CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS v.22

 

FAITH DEPENDS ON WHAT GOD SAYS AND WHETHER OR NOT WE BELIEVE IT.

 

LINK: http://www.lifetimeinchristministries.org

STUDIES IN ROMANS

LESSON 17

FAITH = THE PROMISE – PART 2

Romans 4:13-17 (KJV)

¹³ For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. ¹⁴ For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect: ¹⁵ Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression. ¹⁶ Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all, ¹⁷ (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.

Romans 4:13-17 (CEB)

¹³ The promise to Abraham and to his descendants, that he would inherit the world, didn’t come through the Law but through the righteousness that comes from faith. ¹⁴ If they inherit because of the Law, then faith has no effect and the promise has been canceled. ¹⁵ The Law brings about wrath. But when there isn’t any law, there isn’t any violation of the law. ¹⁶ That’s why the inheritance comes through faith, so that it will be on the basis of God’s grace. In that way, the promise is secure for all of Abraham’s descendants, not just for those who are related by Law but also for those who are related by the faith of Abraham, who is the father of all of us. ¹⁷ As it is written: I have appointed you to be the father of many nations.^[a] So Abraham is our father in the eyes of God in whom he had faith, the God who gives life to the dead and calls things that don’t exist into existence.

1.    THE PROMISE v.13-15

Ø  Not through the Law

Ø  Through the righteousness of faith

Ø  If law made us heirs, there is no effective promise

Ø  Why? The Law brings us to wrath (anger against God & man because we can’t live up to the law and so it is hopeless)

Ø  Therefore it is through faith by grace we receive the inheritance (promise)

2.    WHO IS THE PROMISE FOR? V.16

Ø  Abraham’s descendants

Ø  Those who have faith like Abraham (us)

3.    ABOUT GOD v.17

Ø  He raises the dead

Ø  Calls things that don’t exist into existence 2 Corinthians 4:13 We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;

THE PROMISE BRINGS US THE RESULTS OF FAITH – WHAT GOD PROMISED HE IS ABLE TO PERFORM!