Romans 4:16-25 (CWSB)
16 Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,
📌17 (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.
18 Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.
19 And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about a hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah’s womb:
20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;
21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.
22 And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.
23 Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him;
24 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;
25 Who was delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification.
Introduction
Faith is required to receive the Grace
1️⃣we approach the name of Abraham, Friend of God, Father of the Faithful.
2️⃣We have seen him justified by faith, personally accepted because turning altogether to the sovereign Promiser.
3️⃣We see him now in some of the glorious issues of that acceptance; "Heir of the world," "Father of many nations."
🛑Abram (a’-brum) = A high father; father of height; the exalted father; high and lofty thinker; high or honored father.
Abraham (a’-bra-ham) = Father of a multitude; father of a great multitude; father of mercy; a father of many nations.
4️⃣And here too all is of grace, all comes through faith. Not works, not merit, not ancestral and ritual privilege, secured to Abraham the mighty Promise; it was his because he, pleading absolutely nothing of personal worthiness, and supported by no guarantees of ordinance, "believed God."
Faith vs works
Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace: The idea of grace stands opposite to the principle of works; grace has to do with receiving the freely given gift of God, works has to do with earningour merit before God.
➡️ Abraham was counted as righteous in 📍Gen 15:6. He did not receive the covenant of circumcision until ✅Genesis 17, which was at least 14 years later. Therefore his righteousness wasn’t based on circumcision, but on faith.
📍Gen 15:6 And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.
✅Gen 17:4 As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations.
Power To Change Ministry
Rev. Alvin Lewis
Powertochangeministry@gmail.Com
Powertochangeministry.org
973-583-7482
