PROMISES, PROMISES…
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Opening Prayer
Almighty God, prepare my heart to learn from you today. Give me new insights that will enable me to serve you better.
Read ROMANS 4:13—25
For additional translations of the passage, use this link to Bible Gateway.
Romans
Romans 4
13 It was not through the law that Abraham and his offspring received the promise that he would be heir of the world, but through the righteousness that comes by faith.
14 For if those who depend on the law are heirs, faith means nothing and the promise is worthless,
15 because the law brings wrath. And where there is no law there is no transgression.
16 Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed 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.
17 As it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.” He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed—the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being things that were not.
18 Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, “So shall your offspring be.”
19 Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah’s womb was also dead.
20 Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God,
21 being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.
22 This is why “it was credited to him as righteousness.”
23 The words “it was credited to him” were written not for him alone,
24 but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness—for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.
25 He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.
Reflect
‘Standing on the promises of Christ, my King … Glory in the highest, I will shout and sing, / Standing on the promises of God.’1
It all depends on God’s promises made to all people through Abraham (v. 13). All people of the world can be put right with God through faith. All can be brought into God’s global family, whatever their race, nationality, or religious background (v. 17). All that’s needed is that we believe in God’s promises. Keeping the rules (the law) doesn’t bring life (v. 15). We are blessed with life because we trust that our transgressions are forgiven, because the Lord will never count our sin against us (vv. 7, 8). Righteousness, then, comes through faith in God’s promises (v. 13, 3).
Here is good news—it might seem almost too good to be true. Surely, as a Christian, I should be doing something to earn my salvation? We can be slow to learn that nothing we can do is enough to meet God’s holy standards (vv. 14, 15). His promises, for all people, are the result of our receiving his grace (v. 16). Perhaps sometimes we again need to accept that in our lives, or any particular situation, only God’s grace is enough.
Paul draws our attention to Abraham’s example. The elderly, childless couple had no natural reason for hope about the promises God had given them concerning their descendants (v. 18).2 In fact, Abraham’s elderly wife, Sarah, laughed when she heard the news from visitors.3 Yet, at the age of about one hundred, Abraham’s faith ‘did not waver’ (v. 20): he was certain that God could and would do what he had promised (v. 21). Today, centuries later, God’s promises to Abraham are still being fulfilled. Through Christ’s death and resurrection, sin is finally dealt with. Now, we, too, have been drawn into God’s family, saved by his grace and our faith in what he has promised (vv. 22—25).
Apply
Might there be situations where you find it difficult to believe in God’s promises? Bring them to him and receive his grace.
Closing prayer
Lord God, please strengthen my faith as I remember the fulfillment of your promises in my life and in the world.
1 ‘Standing on the Promises’, Russell Kelso Carter 1886 2 Gen 12:2, 3 3 Gen 18:9—12.
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