Romans 4-3 - Abraham's Faith#
Romans 4-3 Abraham's Faith
(JP Text Group - Organized by Yun Dan Feng Qing)
Let us pray together:
Heavenly Father, thank you and praise you for allowing us to gather before you to receive your provision. This is a blessed moment, enabling us to restore our faith through your words. We enjoy the supply you give us. Through these words, let us learn about Abraham's faith and know you more. May the Holy Spirit lead us in the following time, we pray in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, Amen!
Romans 4:17-25
What Abraham believed was the God who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist. He is our father in the presence of God, as it is written: "I have made you the father of many nations." He believed in hope against hope, so that he would become the father of many nations, as he had been told: "So shall your offspring be." 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. No distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. That is why his faith was "counted to him as righteousness." But the words "it was counted to him" were not written for his sake alone, but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.
Our sharing topic is: Abraham's Faith
The book of Romans not only speaks of justification by faith but also provides us with examples to follow. It changes our lives. Today, I will share Abraham's belief in God from three aspects.
First point: The object of faith is God
Abraham is the best example of being justified by faith; the object of his faith is God. God said to him, "I have made you the father of many nations." At this time, Abraham had not yet had a son, and he was nearly a hundred years old, past the age of childbearing. From a human perspective, it seemed futile to try any harder. If Abraham were to have a son at this age, it would surely be a miracle from God.
If Abraham had a son at thirty, he might think it was due to his own ability. But at a hundred years old, the Bible specifically mentions: his body was as good as dead, and Sarah's ability to conceive was already gone. From a human perspective, there was no hope left. If a child were born, it would surely be the work of God. How can we see God's work in our lives? It is when we are utterly hopeless, feeling that something is completely impossible, and yet it becomes possible; then we can only give glory to God.
When Abraham had a son, he clearly knew it was God's work; only God could turn the impossible into reality. We call this a miracle.
Mark 11:22-24
And Jesus answered them, "Have faith in God. Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be taken up and thrown into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours."
When a person fully believes in God, no matter how impossible or dire the situation seems, nothing is too difficult for God. For God can create everything and restore everything. When we do not doubt in our hearts and simply believe in God's power, we can expect good things to happen. God accomplishes the best blessings for us according to our faith.
Hebrews 11:6: "And without faith, it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him."
When praying to God, you must believe. Before you see results, you should believe that He will surely reward you, which means He will give freely; you just need to believe. You must first have this mindset before praying to God. What Abraham believed was the God who gives life to the dead. The source of his faith is the true and living Lord, who can make the nonexistent into existence and raise the dead.
Our Heavenly Father breathed His spirit into Adam's body, and Adam became a living being. No matter how impossible God's promised words may seem to us, it doesn't matter, because it is not you who accomplishes this; it is God who makes it a reality, for He has great power to raise the dead, and for God, this is not difficult at all.
We may feel unable to do certain things, but you must believe that He can do all things. Having this faith is enough; this is your faith. God is a faithful God, and He is responsible for His words. Where are God's promises? They are all written in the Bible; you can search for these promises like a treasure, and you will find them.
People in the world can have hope while they are alive, but once they die, there is no hope. However, we are different; the Lord we believe in can raise the dead and make the nonexistent into existence. From nothing to something, only God can do this. When God issues a command, it becomes reality, just as in Genesis, when He thought of something and spoke it, and it was accomplished.
No matter how smart humans are, they cannot turn nothing into something. Many people claim to have created something, but in reality, humans can only manufacture; creation can only be attributed to bringing something from nothing. Humans can only synthesize another thing using what God has made. God is the Creator; what was not there can be made into something, and as soon as He issues a command, it can be accomplished.
Abraham believed in such a God. God would create life within him and Sarah, creating a miracle. Abraham believed God's words; God was the object of his faith. Do not be mistaken; do not place your faith in someone else. When the pastor lacks faith, you should not fall with him. Do not place your faith in uncertain wealth.
Proverbs 23:4-5
Do not toil to acquire wealth; be discerning enough to desist. When your eyes light on it, it is gone, for suddenly it sprouts wings, flying like an eagle toward heaven.
Some say that money can make the devil work, but wealth is unreliable; it may sprout wings and fly away in an instant. This is what the Bible says, but there is one truth: our God. Like Abraham, we should change the object of our faith to our God; everything God promises can be accomplished and realized.
If people could provide and meet every need, there would be no need for God. If you place your faith in people, any hope and promise beyond this life cannot be fulfilled; no one can achieve it, nor can anyone save you from sin and death, from hell. No one dares to give you this promise, and no one can fulfill it. Only our Lord Jesus can do this, and He has already accomplished it; thank the Lord.
Only God can fulfill promises that seem impossible but ultimately can be realized. The Bible has many such promises that we find illogical and incomprehensible, but when God says something, it will surely be accomplished.
Jesus said in Matthew 19:26: "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."
Jesus gave an example, saying that it is very difficult for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven; it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Many people say this is illogical; how can a camel, so large, pass through such a small eye? God says that what seems impossible to man is possible with God.
Luke 1:37: "For nothing will be impossible with God."
Job initially lacked faith and had a wrong understanding of God, but in the end, Job said: "I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted!" Brothers and sisters, is your faith built on God? Believe that God can do all things and that no one can thwart His will.
God bless you and help you; who can stop you?
Romans 8:28-31
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined he also called; those he called he also justified; those he justified he also glorified. What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
We are all called according to God's purpose. God allows us to show His glory in this world. We should emulate the victorious example of Jesus Christ. When we live according to God's words, He will surely help us; no one can stand against us.
We must establish the object of our faith in God. Do not build it on the world, for the foundation of this world is shaky. Building on any object other than God will lead to problems and failures, ultimately causing a fall. Build your faith on God, who never fails; believe that God can do all things. Though I cannot, He can!
Second point: The power of faith comes from God's word
Some say, "I want to believe in God, but there are many things I cannot understand; I cannot believe. I want to truly believe in this God and rely on Him, but I cannot." The issue is often a lack of understanding of God's word or a failure to correctly recognize God's word.
Where does the power of Abraham's faith come from? When God called Abraham, He said, "Leave this place; I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you, and you will be a blessing to others." Abraham believed, and it is not to say that he never had weaknesses or fell; he did, but he still believed in God. The God who raises the dead and calls the nonexistent into existence—how did this faith's power arise?
God promised to give him a son, and Abraham believed what God said. There was no other evidence; God did not say, "Abraham, I will write you a note; you take a pen and a scroll, and I will write on such and such a date, you will have a son." If that had been the case, Abraham would not have doubted and would have just waited for that day. God simply said, "I will make your offspring as numerous as the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore..." There was nothing else.
We have the Bible; when we are weak, we can look at God's words, but Abraham did not have that. He believed God's words and simply trusted; God did not give him any other evidence. He relied solely on God and continued to believe God's words even when he was hopeless, living by the word.
This means that Abraham was not at his most confident; he was at his weakest and most desperate. No one could help him, yet he still had hope because he believed what God had said. He believed that what God said would surely come to pass. Although the situation looked terrible and all circumstances were against him, he did not doubt because of God's promise. This is Abraham's faith.
Abraham thought about his body, which was no longer capable. Brothers and sisters, reflect on this passage; why does the Bible specifically mention this?
Verse 19: He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead.
What does this mean? Who sees their body as dead? It is an old man whose bodily functions have ceased. To have a child, the body must have the ability, but he saw that he was nearly a hundred years old, and certain bodily functions seemed to have stopped working. He had the desire but lacked the ability; not only was he unable, but his wife was also unable, as her ability to conceive had ceased. Having a child seemed impossible; this was the most desperate moment in life.
In this situation, the Bible says his faith did not weaken. What was the basis for such belief? The only basis was that although he saw his body in such a state, he believed that God's words to him were true and that He would not deceive him; this matter would surely come to pass. This was the only thing Abraham could rely on.
Although he thought his body was no longer capable, his faith was still strong. "As good as dead" in Greek is a perfect participle, indicating that Abraham's reproductive function had ceased. His wife's reproductive function had also stopped working. If Abraham could have a son at this time, it would be something that humans absolutely could not do. When Abraham thought about this matter, he did not focus on himself but on God. Because from his perspective, this matter was completely impossible, he placed his faith in God's words. This is the power of Abraham's faith.
The power of faith does not come from the world, from the environment, or from any person, but arises from God's word! What words in the Bible has God spoken to you? The Bible is a letter written by God to you. Since it is written to you, you should remember the parts that are addressed to you. Believe that it is what God has written for you; no matter what others say, you must believe that God will surely accomplish this. This is the power of Abraham's faith.
In hopeless situations, Abraham's faith remained strong because he remembered the words God had spoken to him. This faith was not built in a day; according to biblical research, it took nearly forty years. Do not say, "Why is my faith so small?" Give yourself time. Experience God in your daily life, adjusting your focus repeatedly to God's words, remembering His words, and this will strengthen your faith. This is the source of your faith's power.
This is why I suggest that brothers and sisters often meditate on God's words, as they can generate faith and strengthen your faith. Thank and praise the Lord!
Abraham's faith was strong because he did not doubt God's promises. Not only that, but he also thanked and praised God for this glorious promise without doubt.
Doubt is the killer of faith. Doubt can cause many blessings to be lost. You must eliminate doubt and have a strong faith in God's words, often meditating on them, saying, "Yes, this is what God said." Even if it seems illogical, I believe it because it is what God said.
Abraham's faith did not waver with doubt, nor did he say, "Did I hear wrong in the past?" He did not say this. Many people pray and, when they do not see results, think, "Does God not want to accomplish this for me? Has God stopped loving me?" Such doubts can consume all previous faith.
Abraham believed in God's power, knowing that God could resolve his body, which was as good as dead. Over the years of pastoring the church, many who could not have children came to our church to hear the word, and God's words generated faith, and after returning, things were accomplished, some of which were indeed physical issues.
If you are listening now and facing such problems, believe that God can surely help you. Abraham was a hundred years old, and his body was in that state, but God could bring his body back to life. Our problems are nothing before God. Brothers and sisters, they indeed had a son afterward, named Isaac. He did not know how God would do it, but he knew that God could fulfill His words.
You should write down the promises God has spoken in the Bible and often meditate on them because these are God's blessings for you. God's promises are for you. You should often think about these and believe that God can accomplish them for you.
For example, if you have insomnia at night, remember the words in the Bible: "The Lord loves, He gives sleep." This is God's promise to you. Meditating on this sentence can help you fall asleep. You say, "Lord, this is your word to me, your promise. You did not intend for me to have insomnia every night; you want me to sleep peacefully in your arms. I believe and receive this rest and the ability to sleep peacefully from you. I do not have it, but I pray to you and draw strength from you."
If you do this, God will surely grant it to you; do not doubt. Amen!
He is your God, a faithful God who never lies. Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness. We are also justified by faith. We can also inherit Abraham's blessings.
When you accept Jesus Christ as your Savior, He is the Son of God who rose from the dead, who died on the cross for your sins, shedding His precious blood to cleanse your sins. When you believe this, God says, "I will credit righteousness to your account; I will call you righteous."
Humans are not righteous by nature, but righteousness is placed inside you. Even if you are a sinner, an imperfect person, a person without righteousness, a corrupt person, a person who falls short of the glory of God, because you believe in Jesus Christ, who sacrificed Himself for your sins on the cross and rose from the dead three days later, He has taken away all your weaknesses, and all your sins have been placed on Jesus Christ. God accepts your faith and grants you righteousness. Therefore, you have God's righteousness.
Without Christ, we have no faith and no power; we are all people who fall short of God's glory. However, because you believe in Jesus Christ and accept Him, you possess the righteousness of Christ, the authority and power of Christ. In God's eyes, you are without blemish; do not deny your identity.
No matter what others say, you must know that in Christ, you are righteous. Even if everyone attacks you, saying your behavior is bad or that you keep failing... can you say, "Lord, I know you still love me and accept me"? Even if people in your company dislike you, can you first accept yourself in God's eyes and then rely on Christ's grace to change yourself? If everyone dislikes you, there may indeed be some problems, but you should first affirm yourself from God. It is okay; you must know that God's righteousness is not given because you are perfect; it is precisely because you are imperfect that you need Christ's righteousness to replace your unrighteousness. Be renewed and changed in Christ.
Abraham believed in the Lord, and the Lord counted it to him as righteousness. Abraham believed in God, and he possessed God's righteousness, which pleased God. People believing in the Son of God is crucial; Abraham looked to God's promises. Can you look to God's promises? Do not focus on how bad your environment is. You say your child is sick, your job is terrible, and business is very difficult. You need to return to read God's words and look to God's promises; do not doubt.
Jesus Christ became poor for you, and because He took your poverty, you can become rich. Jesus Christ bore your sickness so that you can be healed by His stripes. These are all God's promises.
These promises are not only for the Jews but also for all who believe in His words, for those who look to God's promises. If you do not doubt, you can respond correctly, just like Abraham, believing that God's words will surely come to pass, no matter how bad the environment is, your heart will be strengthened. Focus your attention on God's words, continually read God's words, and believe that they will be fulfilled in you; your faith will be strengthened. You will no longer doubt.
You will give glory to God! You will thank God! When you can offer praise, it is actually a sign that your faith has already taken effect. In extremely adverse circumstances, being able to thank God means you have already overcome that environment, and you will see that God will indeed accomplish this for you.
Verse 21: Abraham was fully convinced that God would do what He had promised.
Being fully convinced means: not looking at what others say about me, not looking at how the environment is. Did Abraham not have friends? Did no one else speak about him? You can reflect on this; Abraham was nearly a hundred years old and often said that God would give him a child. What would others say about him? Would they not think he was crazy for wanting a child? My grandchildren have already been born, and you still do not have a son...
With such people criticizing him, could he still be happy? But Abraham remained fully convinced that what God had promised would surely come to pass. Many times, it is people who give up on believing that God's words will come to pass in their lives, feeling it is impossible, so they try to rely on themselves. Even in his weakness, Abraham continued to believe that God's promises would surely come to pass, and God counted it to him as righteousness. This is the faith of Abraham that we need to emulate.
Third point: Abraham's faith is something we can emulate
Why not say that Abraham's entire life is worthy of emulation? Only one person’s life is worth emulating, and that is the Lord Jesus! Other than Him, other people's faith is only partially worthy of emulation. We are all human, and we all have weaknesses and failures, and Abraham was no different.
However, Abraham's faith is indeed worth emulating; his faith is recorded in the Bible for us to learn from and emulate.
When reading these things, it is not to say, "Abraham is so amazing; no wonder he is the father of faith!" If you only read Romans and Hebrews, you would think Abraham is incredible, almost a model for us. But when you read Genesis, you will find that he also had weak moments. However, even in his weak moments, he still looked to God's promises. Can you do that today? If you are in a weak moment, you need to look to God's promises and God's words. Do not complain like others, saying this is bad or that person is bad, or that society is unfair to him. This is not what we should do. Abraham is the one we should emulate; through his experiences, we should understand how he was accepted by God, which was through his strong faith, believing in God even in his weakness.
Many times, when we are weak, we say we do not believe. I do not know if you are like this; I have said such words when I was weak. "I believed; what is the difference from not believing? Forget it; I do not believe anymore... I have believed for so long; why has this not been accomplished?" Now looking back, it is such a ridiculous thing.
What does recording these things mean? Why does God want to record the events of Jesus Christ in the Bible?
John 20:31: "But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name."
The one we believe in is Jesus, believing that Jesus is the Son of God, the Christ. When you believe in Jesus, you will have life through believing in His name. This is our faith; the goal of faith is Jesus Christ, not Paul, not some master, but Jesus Christ. Believing that He is the Son of God, when we believe, we know we have received God's life.
Luke 1:3-4: "It seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught."
Luke was a physician, and when he wrote these things, he first had to investigate thoroughly; this is a physician's professional habit, but it is also a good thing. The more Luke investigated Jesus, the more faith he had. Luke said, "I have written to you a letter, having carefully examined everything from the beginning, to write an orderly account for you, so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught."
It is real; you do not need to investigate anymore. You do not need to go to Israel to see if Jesus really existed, to see if there is a house where Peter lived, or if there is a house where the Holy Spirit descended on Pentecost, or an empty tomb. I do not believe; I need to see it. Luke has already told you that he has examined everything in detail. You just need to believe; you are blessed if you believe in Jesus Christ without going to Israel.
Jesus also said, "Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." We are blessed people. Through reading the Bible and seeing the changes in those around us who believe in Jesus, we should know that the words of the Bible are real, and God's promises are real. They can be fulfilled in their lives and can surely be fulfilled in yours. Why not?
God's love for us is the same; Jesus sacrificed His life for everyone. The difference lies in faith. Are you focusing on God's words? Are you firmly convinced? If you still have doubts, continue to read the Bible, meditate, read repeatedly, and think about what God has given you. It is for you, not for your neighbor. Treat God's promises as if they are for you.
For example, when Jesus says: "Truly, truly, I say to you..." this statement is certainly for you. There are also some letters written by the Apostle Paul to those loved by God, etc. Such words are for you. Therefore, these promises are for you. You should mark these promises and every time you read them, think repeatedly that these words are for me. You must carefully examine these words that God has given you.
People can be justified by faith, which must include two facts: to know that God not only wants to give Abraham promises.
Verse 24: "But for ours also, to whom it will be counted, who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord."
If you believe that the Lord Jesus rose from the dead, you can also receive Abraham's promises. Do not say that Abraham could not have a child; I estimate I am about the same... Do not think like this. If he could, you can too. It depends on whether you can believe that these words are for you. If you think they are for Abraham and not for you, then they belong to Abraham, and you will not receive this promise.
If you believe they are for you, God will let these words take effect in you. The phrase "counted as righteousness" is not only for Abraham but also for us who believe in God, who raised our Lord Jesus from the dead. We believe in Him who rose from the dead, the God who was, is, and will be forever alive.
Verse 25 is a key verse: "Jesus was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification." (Jesus was delivered for our offenses and raised for our justification).
We must remember this verse; it is very important. God raised our Lord Jesus Christ from the dead and delivered Him to death for an important reason. It was because of your offenses that He was delivered to men, and He paid the price for sin. Yes, the wages of sin is death.
We sin, and the price is death. Jesus died for us; this matter has been completed. When Jesus died, your sins were already forgiven. In Christianity, the subject of death is often mentioned, and people are reluctant to talk about death, thinking it is unlucky. But the death of Jesus Christ was to prevent us from dying.
Two thousand years ago, He was delivered to men for your offenses. He became our atonement and died for our sins. He rose again, and we are justified. Jesus Christ had to shed His precious blood on the cross to satisfy God's righteous requirements. God is no longer angry with you.
He was delivered to men, and we are no longer condemned by the law. After Jesus died, our price was already paid. If Jesus' death has already paid the price, why is it mentioned that His resurrection is for our justification? This is a core teaching in Christianity. One core is the forgiveness of sins, and the other is death and resurrection!
The resurrection is crucial. If Jesus Christ had not risen, we would have no hope at all. You may have seen news reports about some cult leader's bones being discovered, and the followers celebrated wildly... If one day the bones of Jesus Christ are found, it would be over; no one would believe anymore. Jesus Christ died and rose from the dead three days later, which proves one thing: only Christ is real! Other religions do not record the resurrection.
The resurrection of Jesus Christ is for our justification. What would happen if He did not rise? We might hear people from other religions say that it does not matter what you believe; all religions teach people to do good. As long as you do good deeds, it is fine. I know your Jesus is good; I do not reject it. Believing in this is the same as climbing a mountain; you go up one way, and I go up another, and we can all reach the so-called heaven and obtain eternal life. You call it heaven; we call it paradise. It is just a different way of saying it. They might say it gently. If a Christian says, "Shut up; that is false..." they will smile and say, "Do not get excited; I am just sharing my opinion..." Does it not seem that those who believe in Christ are more like the false ones? Therefore, sometimes behavior is still quite important.
If Jesus Christ had not risen, the above statements would be correct. "But" is very important! But Jesus Christ has risen from the dead, proving that only this path is real.
Nietzsche once made a statement saying, "God is dead." Our God did not come down from heaven to say, "Nietzsche, how dare you say I am dead; I am still alive." Jesus did not do that. In the face of people's disbelief and slander, God is still alive, and in the end, Nietzsche went mad.
You must believe that the Lord we believe in is the God who died and rose again. When Jesus Christ died on the cross for our sins, all your sins were forgiven. When He rose from the dead, this is your testimony of justification. No matter what others say, you have been justified by God. As long as Jesus Christ is alive, you are righteous. As long as He lives, you are righteous.
The Bible says that Jesus Christ will live forever, and you are forever justified. Amen. This is our Lord Jesus. Because Abraham believed only in God's words, he relied solely on God's words. Many people envy the Old Testament, saying how good it was back then when angels would come and speak to you, and you would believe.
But do you know how many times Abraham saw angels in his life? We are different; at any time, as long as you want to communicate with God, you can read the Bible and pray. The promises are already written here. When your faith is weak, read God's words, and your faith will be restored. When you are hopeless, look at God's promises, read them aloud, and believe that God will accomplish this in me, living a joyful life.
The righteousness of Abraham is also yours. What he believed was what was yet to be seen, while what you believe is the already arrived Jesus, who has done many things. We should have the faith of Abraham. Although he is the father of faith, you can emulate him, emulating his unwavering faith in God, believing that God's words will surely come to pass in any circumstance.
Let us pray together:
Heavenly Father, we thank and praise you. Abraham believed in the God who raises the dead and calls the nonexistent into existence. In times of weakness and hopelessness, when things had not yet come to pass, he still believed that God would accomplish it. In hopeless situations, relying on God's words, he still had hope. Please grant me such faith, allowing me to learn to rely on your words and be victorious in life.
In Christ, you have given me many promises. I am willing to grasp these promises with faith, removing doubts from my heart, believing that your words will be fulfilled in me. Your words define my life and my living. I believe I am a blessed person, and you will bless the work of my hands. I am willing to experience your great power more. Thank you and praise the Lord. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, we pray, Amen!