Romans 4:13-25

Faith in the Impossible

God promises

Abraham believes

God delivers

The Promise of God to Abraham

Genesis 12:1–5 ESV

Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” So Abram went, as the Lord had told him, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran. And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother’s son, and all their possessions that they had gathered, and the people that they had acquired in Haran, and they set out to go to the land of Canaan. When they came to the land of Canaan,

Lexham Theological Wordbook ἐπαγγελία

ἐπαγγελία (epangelia). n. promise. A pledge to do something that obligates the pledger to follow through.

In the NT, epangelia usually refers to God’s promises (e.g., Acts 2:39; Rom 4:13). Sometimes it refers to the statement of a promise (e.g., Rom 15:8), while at other times it refers to the thing promised (e.g., Heb 11:17). Galatians 3:15 identifies as a covenant (diathēkē) God’s promise (epangelia) that he would give the land to Abraham and his seed.

Abraham Believes God

What things did Abraham do that demonstrate his belief in the unbelievable promise of God?

Knowledge of God along with God’s divine revelation to Abraham are what produce the faith of Abraham.

God delivers

How has God delivered on his promises to Abraham?

What can we then say about God’s character?