Rachel Workman: 16 Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring—not only to those who are of the law but also to those who have the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all. 17 As it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.”[c] He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed—the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being things that were not.
18 Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed
and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, “So
shall your offspring be.”[d]
19 Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his
body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that
Sarah’s womb was also dead. 20 Yet he did not waver through
unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and
gave glory to God, 21 being fully persuaded that God had power
to do what he had promised. 22 This is why “it was credited to
him as righteousness.” 23 The words “it was credited to him”
were written not for him alone, 24 but also for us, to whom God
will credit righteousness—for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord
from the dead. 25 He was delivered over to death for our sins
and was raised to life for our justification.
These verses
once again bring home to me how much my faith waivers. Not my faith in God or
what God has promised me but my faith in God's ability to move mountains for
me. Or His ability to work all things for my good. Too easily I give up
thinking I'm alone in my decision making and that God won't work on my behalf.
What I fail to see is that even when things go wrong and things are looking
pretty bad God's in control of that also. And he will work all things for my
good.
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John Burnett:
16 For this reason it is [a]by faith, in order that it may
be in accordance with grace, so that the promise will be
guaranteed to all the[b]descendants, not only to [c]those who are of the Law, but also to[d]those who are of the faith of Abraham,
who is the father of us all,17 (as
it is written, “A father of many
nations have I made you”) in the presence of Him whom he believed, even God, who
gives life to the dead and [e]calls into being that which does
not exist. Another reference to Genesis 1 being a literal interpretation.
I fear for those people who call themselves Christians but do not give God the
credit for creating the universe the way He says He did will suffer the fate of
those described in Matthew 7:21.
“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’
will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is
in heaven will enter.
Their god, who they say used the big bang theory or
evolution to create the universe and everything on earth, is not the same as my
God, who created everything by saying the words,” Let there be…”. Two
completely different gods and only one of them will save you from your sins.
18 In
hope against hope he believed, so that he might become a father of many nations
according to that which had been spoken, “So
shall your [f]descendants
be.”19 Without
becoming weak in faith he contemplated his own body, now as good as dead
since he was about a hundred years old, and the deadness of Sarah’s
womb; 20 yet,
with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief but grew
strong in faith, giving glory to God, 21 and being fully assured
that what God had promised, He was able also to perform. God
promises eternal life and because Jesus was resurrected, we know that only He
is able to fulfill that promise. 22 Therefore it was also credited to him as righteousness. 23 Now not for his sake only
was it written that it was credited to him, 24 but for our sake also, to whom it
will be credited, as those who believe in Him who raised Jesus our
Lord from the dead, 25 He who
was delivered over because of our transgressions, and was raised
because of our justification. Jesus’s resurrection shows us that
His death on the cross was sufficient to justify God’s wrath against us and
that our justification insures us of the promises God makes in His word for
those who put their trust in Jesus Christ.
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Krista Cook:
16 Therefore, the
promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all
Abraham’s offspring—not only to those who are of the law but also to those who
have the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all. 17 As it
is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.”[c]
He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed—the God who gives
life to the dead and calls into being things that were not.
-
The promises of God are such a wonderful gift He has given to us. Those
promises still stand true today. So thankful!
18 Against all hope, Abraham in hope
believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to
him, “So shall your offspring be.”[d]
19 Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his
body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that
Sarah’s womb was also dead. 20 Yet he did not waver through
unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and
gave glory to God, 21 being fully persuaded that God had power
to do what he had promised.
-
We, too, can have hope in difficult times. Don't ever let a situation
affect your level of belief.
22 This is why “it was credited to
him as righteousness.” 23 The words “it was credited to him”
were written not for him alone, 24 but also for us, to whom God
will credit righteousness—for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord
from the dead. 25 He was delivered over to death for our sins
and was raised to life for our justification.
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Tomorrow’s reading for Romans 5:1-5
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