Journey Through The Bible
   Old Testament Reading: Jeremiah 28-30
  New Testament Reading: Romans 4

He did not waver in unbelief at God’s promise but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, because he was fully convinced that what God had promised, he was also able to do. Therefore, it was credited to him for righteousness. Now it was credited to him was not written for Abraham alone, but also for us. It will be credited to us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. He was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification (Romans 4:20-25).

Abraham did not walk by sight, he walked by faith. He firmly believed that what God promised, He had the power to do. Although Abraham was 100 years old and his wife Sarah was 90 and they were both well beyond the age of bearing children, Paul says Abraham’s faith did not waver. Facing a humanly imposable situation, he never doubted.

What confidence in God this spiritual forefather possessed! He was not weak in faith despite insurmountable odds. Unbelief did not divide him in his thinking. He was empowered by faith and fully persuaded God can do what He had said He would do.

No wonder God credited such faith as righteousness. Therefore, it was credited to him for righteousness (v22). Abraham’s response of faith to God was the human requirement for God justifying Abraham, for God’s declaration that Abraham stood righteous before Him.

The Apostle Paul says this truth about justification by faith was not for Abraham alone, but also for us. However, this act of justification is not for everyone. Paul clearly states, It will be credited to us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. He was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification (v24-25). Because Jesus Christ lives, God can credit His righteousness to the account of every person who responds by faith.

Unlike Christians today, Abraham did not have a Bible to read; he only had a simple promise from God. He was almost alone as a believer, surrounded by heathen unbelievers. He could not look back at a long record of faith; in fact, he was helping to establish that record. Yet Abraham believed God.

Today, we have a complete Bible to read and study. We have a church full of other believers to fellowship with and we can look back at centuries of men and women of faith as recorded in church history and the Bible. And yet so often we stumble in our faith. We need to remember the example of Abraham and have faith that God is greater than any situation we face and trust Him for our salvation.