The Promise of God’s Goodness

How many of you have ever made a promise before?

All of us have promised something at one point or another in life. We’ve all received promises from people in our life before as well. If you have been married, or you are currently married, both you and the person you are married to made promises to each other on the day that you said your wedding vows.

The reliability of a promise depends on the one who makes the promise.

The last several weeks we have talked a lot about faith in God. God gives us promises and we can be sure that we receive those promises by faith. Those promises aren’t something that we earned through works.

Today, our text is in Romans chapter 4. I will begin reading at verse 13. We will see that God’s promises are something that we can be sure to receive by faith.

Paul continues to teach us about the promises of God through the life of Abraham. Abraham’s life is an example of trusting God even when circumstances seem impossible.

Let’s look at our text.

Romans 4:13–25 NIV

13 It was not through the law that Abraham and his offspring received the promise that he would be heir of the world, but through the righteousness that comes by faith. 14 For if those who depend on the law are heirs, faith means nothing and the promise is worthless, 15 because the law brings wrath. And where there is no law there is no transgression. 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.” 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.” 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.

The Promise is Based on Faith, Not Performance

During the pandemic, Kelly and picked up an ancestry membership. Every night we would take time to look at the different hints we were given about our family history. We were able to trace back our family all the way to the 1600’s. My family is something that I was born into. No one can take that family away from me, it is a part of me. There were no rules that I had to follow in order to be apart of that family. I belong to that family because of my lineage. I didn’t get to pick who is apart of that family they became a part of me because of my lineage.

Now, image trying to earn an inheritance by following a list of rules rather than being part of the family. None of us wouldn’t want that. We should have to earn anything for that inheritance. It should be ours because of who our last name is, right? See, faith makes us heirs, not effort.

Many people believe that God’s blessings come from obedience to the law, but Paul makes it clear: righteousness comes through faith.

We hear people talk on the news, podcasts, youtube, and other forms of media, how the land that Israel has is rightfully theirs because it was given to them by God. What we know of as the Holy City is what the Bible describes as Canaan. And yes that is true. However, we shouldn’t get wrapped up in just that piece of land. Look at what Paul tells us about Abraham. He says…

Romans 4:13 NIV

13 It was not through the law that Abraham and his offspring received the promise that he would be heir of the world, but through the righteousness that comes by faith.

Abraham was promised by God that the entire creation is given to them as an inheritance. So everything is God’s and it has been given to Abraham and his family, which includes you and I, as an inheritance. When God made this promise to Abraham, His intention was that the whole world would be saved.

And if you add the law into the equation then no one inherits the land. When we depend on the law then faith is meaningless and we would not receive the promise. Jesus came to abolish the law. Jesus is the redeemer that allows us to receive our inheritance.

Therefore, we receive God’s promises by faith, not by our works or ability to keep the law.

So, ask yourself this question this morning, am I trusting in my performance, or am I receiving God’s promises through faith?

The Promise is Guaranteed by Grace

God’s promises are true and unshakable. How? It rests on His grace, not on human effort.

I like it when promises are kept, don’t you? If someone gives us a promise, we want them to keep their word, don’t we?

If you have kids, that child trusts you to be a loving parent. They look to you to provide for their needs. This is not based on what they do, but it is based on the love that you show them.

The promise we have from God is based on faith and it is by grace and guaranteed to anyone that believes because of the love that God has for us.

We know that God’s promises are true, because He is a life giving God. Look at verse 17.

Romans 4:17 NIV

17 As it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.” 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.

God promised to make Abraham a father of many nations through His wife Sarah. When God told them they would have a child, they thought there is no way this can happen. They thought in the natural since that Sarah’s womb was dead. She was an old woman and Abraham was an old man. They thought there was no way they could have a child in their old age.

But God, took something, Sarah’s womb, that was essentially dead and brought life to that womb. God gave life to the dead and called it into being that thing that was not.

All God’s promises are true. What hopeless situation do you have in front of you? Believe in faith that God can turn your dead situation and bring life back into that area.

Do you trust God even when your circumstances seem hopeless? God’s promises are not limited by what you see. We serve a limitless God. What is it that you need today?

Our faith is in God’s ability not our own. He is faithful to fulfill His promises to all who believe.

Have faith and believe that God can turn your situation around.

The Power of Faith in Impossible Situations

What looked impossible for Abraham, God turned it around. Against all hope, Abraham believed and became the father of many nations. Though his body was dead in the natural, though Sarah’s womb was dead in the natural, Abraham did not waver in his faith. He was strengthened in his faith. And he gave all the glory to God.

Abraham understood the reality of the situation that he was in. He understood that in the natural since Sarah shouldn’t be able to have children, but he chose to believe.

Abraham was fully convinced that God would do what He promised.

A bridge over a canyon is only trustworthy if it can hold your weight. Faith is only as strong as the One in whom you place it.

When God all things are possible to them that believe.

What impossible situation do you need to trust God for today?

Are you fully convinced that He is able?

Faith is not ignoring reality but trusting God despite the reality.

Do you believe what the Lord can do?

We are not ignoring what the doctor says, we are just trusting God despite what the doctor says.

We are not ignoring what the bank account says, we are just trusting God despite what the bank account says.

We are not ignoring what the therapist says, we are just trusting God despite what the therapist says.

Our trust is in God. My faith is in God alone. I don’t have to believe the report. I’m going to believe God’s report and He isn’t finished with me yet.

Our Faith in the Fulfilled Promise.

It is through scriptures that we can read about the faith of Abraham. It is for our benefit in hopes that we believe these promises that God has for us.

And just as Abraham was justified by faith, you and I are justified by believing in Jesus, who was raised for our justification.

When you got married, a marriage license was signed which was a binding contract between you and your spouse. It is a legal guarantee. You accepted the terms of the marriage agreement.

Christ’s resurrection is God’s signature that His promise of salvation is fulfilled.

It is through faith in Jesus that you are saved.

Trusting in God’s Faithfulness

It is by faith, not works, that we receive the promises of God.

Just like Abraham, each of us are called to trust God’s Word, even when circumstances seem impossible.

When Jesus went to the cross He fulfilled the greatest promise of God that we can be saved.

So, no matter your situation, God is able to do what He has promised.

I believe there are three groups of people here today.

First, if you have not placed your faith in Jesus, do so today. It will be the best decision you will ever make.

Second, if realities of life are smacking you in the face, you can place your trust in God to overcome those realities.

Third, where are you struggling to trust God’s promises? Surrender those fears and doubts over to Him.

Oswald chambers said this…

“Faith never know where it is being led, but it loves and knows the One who is leading.” - Oswald Chambers