Romans 4:13-21
In Genesis 15:4-6 God’s word came to Abram, confirming His promise with him that He will make him a great nation. God told Abram his seed will come from his own body and be as the stars in the sky. Abram believed in the Lord, and He counted it to him for righteousness.
Paul declared that the promise Abraham received from God that he would be the heir of the world was not to him or his seed through the law, but through the righteousness of faith (4:13). The apostle used Abraham to illustrate how his faith in God made him righteous. Abraham, who against hope, believed in hope when God told him, “I have made you a father of many nations.” Abraham believed God who gives life to the dead and calls those things which are not as though they were (v.17). Remember that by the power of God’s spoken word, the world came into existence. Being that Abraham was about 100 years old, his faith did not weaken; he figured his body was as good as dead—and so was Sarah’s womb (v.19).
Yet, Abraham never staggered in unbelief concerning God’s promise; he believed in the God who brings the dead back to life and who creates new things out of nothing. He grew strong in faith, giving glory to God (v.20). He was fully persuaded that God had the power to do what He had promised (v.21). Like Abraham, even when the going gets tough, we must be steadfast in faith.
Today, will you believe God who has power to create from nothing and bring the dead back to life? Give God glory!