Romans Chapter 4

Against hope believed in hope.

Chapter 4, Verses 17-22

Rom. 4:17 "(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."

When God told Abraham, "I have made thee a father of many nations," Abraham was 99 years old and had a child by the Egyptian handmade named Ishmael. God told Abraham that Ishamael would not be his heir. Yet God promised to Abraham that he was a father of many nations through a child that was not yet conceived and would be born of Sarah. God called Abraham a father of many nations when he was not yet a father of any nations. Only God can call things that be not as though they were. For only God has the power and wisdom and ability to guarantee that his promises will be fulfilled perfectly.

"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." At the time this promise was made, Abraham had no ability to beget a child and Sarah was long past having the ability to have children. Neither Abraham nor Sarah could produce children according to nature. If Abraham and Sarah had to fulfill this promise through their ability they would have been totally unable to do so. God had promised Abraham that Sarah would bear him a son in this set time in the next year and that the son's name would be called Isaac. It was through Isaac that Abraham would become a father of many nations. There was no hope in the natural ability of Abraham that Abraham could father a child. However, Abraham's hope did not rest in his own ability, but it rested in the promise of God. It is in this manner that Abraham, "who against hope, believed in hope."

"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." If Abraham had considered his own body whose reproductive ability was dead, or had considered Sarah's womb, which was dead, as far as its reproductive ability, he would have had no hope. Abraham's faith did not rest in his or Sarah's ability. Abraham's faith rested in the promise of God and that God would fulfill his promise.

"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." Abraham was fully persuaded that what God had promised, God would also perform. He was, therefore, strong in faith and he gave all the glory to God. God did indeed restore Abraham and Sarah to the time of life and they bore a son according to God's promise. This promise was fulfilled not because of what Abraham and Sarah were able to accomplish, but rather because of what God did according to God's promise.

"And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness." Abraham's faith, which was given unto him through the miracle of the new birth, connected him to the promise of God and God counted this unto him in his heart and mind for righteousness.

Chapter 4, Verses 23-25

Rom. 4:23 "Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; 24 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; 25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification."

The testimony of the scriptures, which witness of Abraham's experiences, is given to us for an example, that we might understand what God has done for us and is doing for us. Recall that earlier in this chapter we were told, "Abraham believed God and it was counted unto him for righteousness." Just as Abraham believed in the covenant promises of God and God counted this into the heart and mind of Abraham for righteousness, so should we also believe in the covenant promises of God. We read of God's covenant promise made unto us before the world began in Rom. 8:29, 30: "For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified."

When we by faith believe God's covenant promise stated above, then we believe that Christ was delivered for our offences and was raised again for our justification. Thus, we believe that justification is not by any thing that we do, but rather because of God's covenant promise and that by the grace of God. We believe that Jesus Christ died for us to redeem us from our sins according to the covenant of redemption. This is the righteousness of faith whereby we are brought to understand that we were justified by the redeeming blood of Jesus Christ alone. Therefore, as the righteousness of faith was imputed unto Abraham, so the righteousness of faith is imputed unto us also.