Romans 4:13-25

God’s Saving Word: Hope

Introduction

Romans 4:13-25: According to Paul, God’s promises are for all who have faith and God’s promise to Abraham was independent of the Law.

Scripture Reading

God’s Promise Is Received through Faith

¹³ When God promised Abraham and his descendants that the world would belong to him, he did so, not because Abraham obeyed the Law, but because he believed and was accepted as righteous by God. ¹⁴ For if what God promises is to be given to those who obey the Law, then faith means nothing and God’s promise is worthless. ¹⁵ The Law brings down God’s anger; but where there is no law, there is no disobeying of the law.

¹⁶ And so the promise was based on faith, in order that the promise should be guaranteed as God’s free gift to all of Abraham’s descendants—not just to those who obey the Law, but also to those who believe as Abraham did. For Abraham is the spiritual father of us all; ¹⁷ as the scripture says, “I have made you father of many nations.” So the promise is good in the sight of God, in whom Abraham believed—the God who brings the dead to life and whose command brings into being what did not exist. ¹⁸ Abraham believed and hoped, even when there was no reason for hoping, and so became “the father of many nations.” Just as the scripture says, “Your descendants will be as many as the stars.” ¹⁹ He was then almost one hundred years old; but his faith did not weaken when he thought of his body, which was already practically dead, or of the fact that Sarah could not have children. ²⁰ His faith did not leave him, and he did not doubt God’s promise; his faith filled him with power, and he gave praise to God. ²¹ He was absolutely sure that God would be able to do what he had promised. ²² That is why Abraham, through faith, “was accepted as righteous by God.” ²³ The words “he was accepted as righteous” were not written for him alone. ²⁴ They were written also for us who are to be accepted as righteous, who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from death. ²⁵ Because of our sins he was given over to die, and he was raised to life in order to put us right with God.

Today’s Key Verse:  Romans 4:25

Because of our sins [Jesus] was given over to die, and he was raised to life in order to put us right with God.

Reflect

Reread verses 16 and 17. Paul describes Abraham as the “spiritual father of us all.” According to Paul, we are descendants of Abraham because of our faith in God. What does this say to you about your relationship with God? About your relationship with other believers?

Pray

My faith is in you alone, Lord God, and I trust in your promises. Because of my sin, Jesus was given over to die, but you raised him to life in order to put me right with you. Thank you, Lord God, for accepting me as righteous. Amen.

And now, join us in prayer for the many people in Rwanda who are in deep despair and long for a Bible of their own. Lord God, four out of ten people in Rwanda live in poverty and can’t afford Scripture. But thanks to the support of Bible-A-Month Partners, thousands of people are able to join audio Bible listening groups and are experiencing changed lives. Praise to you, Lord God, that many have committed their lives to Christ and are growing in faith after participating in this audio Bible outreach program. Amen.

Tomorrow’s Reading

Romans 5:1-21: The apostle Paul describes how being put right with God helps us to live.