[Abraham] did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God. Romans 4:20 (NIV)
God’s promise was so great that a person might easily waver in believing it. But Abraham didn’t. “He was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised” (4:20-21).
God promised Abraham: “I have made you a father of many nations” (4:17). Not just one nation—many nations! Only God could do this, and Abraham believed that He had the power to do it, and that He would do for Abraham what he could not do for himself.
The story of Abraham illustrates how faith believes in God’s great promises. The righteousness, holiness, and perfection God calls His people to is impossible: “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (3:23); “there is no one righteous, not even one” (3:10); “no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law” (3:20). So, if we can’t achieve the life that God calls us to live by our own efforts, then there must be another way.
It turns out God Himself has provided a way that we would never have come up with in a million years: “Now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known… this righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe” (3:21-22).
God sent His Son to do what people cannot do for themselves. Faith glorifies God when a person embraces the hope of God’s promise in Christ. Through believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, a person is joined to Christ in this life-giving bond of faith, and God credits Christ’s righteousness to those who believe today, just as He did for Sarah and Abraham.
Are you trying to do the impossible? Or are you trusting in God’s promise?
