Sunday Sermon – ARE YOU FULLY CONVINCED? – SS20260607

¹³ For the promise that he would be the heir of the world was not to Abraham or to his seed through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.  ¹⁴ For if those who are of the law are heirs, faith is made void and the promise made of no effect,  ¹⁵ because the law brings about wrath; for where there is no law there is no transgression.   

¹⁶ Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all ¹⁷ (as it is written, “I have made you a father of many nations”) in the presence of Him whom he believed — God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did; ¹⁸ who, contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, “So shall your descendants be.”   ¹⁹ And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb.   ²⁰ He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, ²¹ and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform.   ²² And therefore “it was accounted to him for righteousness.”   

²³ Now it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him, ²⁴ but also for us.  It shall be imputed to us who believe in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, ²⁵ who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification.     

As you hear/read that passage … what stands out for you?  

• For me, it’s the section in Romans 4:19-22.

To understand why … we need to understand the CONTEXT …  

The Letter Romans  is about JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH.  

In Romans 3, Paul argues that no one can be justified by law-keeping … or works of any kind.

• Romans 3:20 … by the deeds of the law, no one will be justified
• Romans 3:21-26 … True justification (God’s righteousness) is only by faith
• Romans 3:27-28 … We, who are in a right relationship with God … have NOTHING TO BOAST ABOUT 

In Romans 4, Paul presents Abraham as a good example of one who was justified by faith, NOT by works.

• Romans 4:1-4 … Abraham had nothing to boast about … because his right relationship … was NOT b/c of works
• Romans 4:5-8 … David makes a similar point in Psalm 32:1-2
• Romans 4:9-12 … Paul reminds us that Abraham was justified BEFORE the law … while he was still UNcircumcized.

And, then … we get to our text for today … Romans 4:13-25 … which is about WHY Abraham was justified (credited with righteousness)

• Romans 4:13-18 … Paul shows WHY Abraham was justified … it was because he believed a promise.
• Romans 4:19-22 … Paul shows WHY Abraham believed … and this is the part I believe we need to really grasp …
• NB: verses 20 and 21 (Romans 4:20-21) …  He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, ²¹ and being fully convinced (NIV ~ persuaded) that what He had promised He was also able to perform. ²² And therefore “it was accounted to him for righteousness.”

Did you get it?  Did you see why Abraham was able to wait 25 years?

It was because he was “fully persuaded” that God could deliver on His promise.

At the end of the day … it was NOT about what had been promised … BUT about WHO had made the promise.

Why is that important?

• Romans 4:23-24 (NIV)    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.

CONCLUSION

A.  Abraham is called “Father of the Faithful” … because he was faithful … and because we are to be faithful.

B.  We can be faithful … as Abraham was faithful … because we have the Holy Spirit … but, more importantly … because we worship the same God, who is faithful (always has been … always will be).

C.  We can do it … We can be as faithful as Abraham was faithful … We just need to be fully convinced (fully persuaded) that God is good … all the time … and He always keeps His promises.