The Promise Comes by Faith
Scripture Reading: Romans 4:13–25 (ESV)
13 For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith.
14 For if it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void.
15 For the law brings wrath, but where there is no law there is no transgression.
16 That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his offspring—not only to the adherent of the law but also to the one who shares the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all,
17 as it is written, “I have made you the father of many nations”—in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist.
18 In hope he believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been told, “So shall your offspring be.”
19 He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead (since he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah’s womb.
20 No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God,
21 fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised.
22 That is why his faith was “counted to him as righteousness.”
23 But the words “it was counted to him” were not written for his sake alone,
24 but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord,
25 who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.
Paul reminds us that the promise God gave to Abraham was never tied to the law but to faith. Abraham’s belief in God’s power to fulfill His word—even when circumstances seemed impossible—was credited to him as righteousness.
This same principle applies to us. We are counted righteous when we trust in the God who raised Jesus from the dead. Our salvation is not the result of our ability to meet God’s standard but of His ability to fulfill His promise.
As we pray today, let us remember that faith is not wishful thinking. It is confident trust in the character and power of God. Like Abraham, may we hold fast to His promises even when our situation looks hopeless.
Prayer Points:
Thank God for making His promises available through faith and grace.
Ask Him to strengthen your trust when circumstances seem impossible.
Pray for a deeper confidence in His power to fulfill His word.