Hi and welcome back. Today we’re going to continue our study of Romans. We have been looking at chapter 4 which deals solely with Abraham’s faith.
It is inspirational to read of a man almost 100 years old who believed God that he, Abraham, would father a child. What an amazing faith. May we all strive to have such a faith. So let’s just pick up where we left off with verse 13.
Romans 4:13 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.
For Abraham to be heir of the world means that he would be the father of not only the Jews but the gentiles as well.
He would be the father of many nations. Not just the nation of Israel.
Again Paul makes it clear that righteousness can be declared through faith and not of works. It would be 430 years after Abraham before the law even came to be. See Galatians 3:17.
Romans 4:14 For if it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void.
Abraham’s Faith would have been in vain if it was the law that made him an heir.
Abraham didn’t even have the law. He had a conscience and a heart for God.
Romans 2:14 For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law.
Romans 2:15 They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them
We all have a conscience. We instinctively know that it is not right to murder someone or to steal.
Our conscience becomes our moral barometer. Yet, having a God-given conscience is of no value if it is not focused on the one who gave it to us.
Romans 4:15 For the law brings wrath, but where there is no law there is no transgression.
Nobody can follow the law to the letter.
It’s impossible. Because with the law God’s wrath is upon us, not His blessing. With just the law we are condemned to death.
The word transgression means the violation of a known law.
In other words, when you’re in a hurry to get that gallon of milk at the store, and you park in a handicapped spot. You’re breaking a known law.
In this verse when it says “where there is no law there is no transgression”, does not mean that you haven’t sinned.
It just means that you haven’t violated the letter of the law, because there is no law. In other words there’s not a sign posted with the speed limit, so if you’re doing a hundred miles an hour when common sense says you should do 25 you’re not breaking a known law, but you know that your actions will have consequences. Whether you kill yourself or run over a pedestrian you know that you are still held accountable.
Continuing on with, Romans 4:16 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,
Paul says again that receiving the promised inheritance comes by faith not by following the law. Because it is received by faith, the promise depends upon God’s grace. There is no way under our own power that we can secure this inheritance.
Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
Paul has demonstrated through the previous scriptures that Abraham was declared righteous by believing God.
Therefore everyone who comes to God by faith is Abraham’s offspring. We can then say that Abraham is the father of all believers both Jew and gentile.
Romans 4:17 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.
Abraham was the father of many nations. Those Nations include all people whose faith is in God.
God gave life to the dead.
With respect to Abraham and Sarah He gave the gift of life, even though both of them were well beyond childbearing years. God gave life to the dead also applies to the death and resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Not only does God give life to the dead, He calls into existence the things that don’t exist. In other words He has spoken into being all that has been created.
Romans 4:18 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.
Abraham believed in faith in the promise of God. For God promised him that his descendants would be more numerous than all the stars in the sky. Genesis 15:5
Romans 4:19 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.
Abraham believed The impossible.
In so doing God performed the supernatural. How many times have we given up on what God has given us to do because we believed it was beyond our ability.
We need to look at what God has already done in our lives. If we look at where we were and where he has taken us we can trust that he will equip us to do his will. Let’s take a look at some scriptures that reaffirm that with God all things are possible.
Matthew 19:26 But Jesus looked at them and said, With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.
Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
Luke 1:37 For nothing will be impossible with God.
Jeremiah 32:17 Ah, Lord GOD! It is you who has made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you.
Ephesians 3:20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us,
Mark 11:24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.
It is only through complete surrender of your life that God can work through you and use you for His glory.
Take the time to reflect on your life today and ask God to show you what you’re still hanging on to that you need to let go of. Whether it’s your pride or self-sufficiency, give it to Him and see what he does with your life. Be prepared for the supernatural.
As always thank you for listening and may you have a week full of opportunities to share this good news with those that need to hear it.