Exploring Romans/Against All Hope

Exploring Romans

Let’s recap:

Paul is writing to the church at Rome.

He’s dealing with a great deal of self righteousness.

He’s been telling the church that the law won’t save them.

He stated that some people without the law have been compelled by divine nature to live Godly lives by faith.

and today he continues his defense by looking at Abraham. Let’s take a look.

Romans 4:16–25 NIV (Anglicised, 2011)

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.

Romans 4:18–25 NIV (Anglicised, 2011)

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.

Romans 4:16-25

Verse 16 says

That the promise comes by faith.

Psla

Do you have the faith of Abraham?

Verse 17 says

Abraham believed in God.

He believed that God gives life to the dead and calls things into being.

Verse 18 says

Abraham believed against all hope.

The promise was fulfilled because of his faith.

Verse 19 says

Without loosing faith he faced the facts that his and Sarah’s reproductive organs were as good as dead.

Verse 20 says

In the face of contrary circumstances Abraham did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God,

Instead he was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God,

When was the last time you gave glory to God before you saw a miracle or an answer to your prayer.

Verse 21

Abraham knew that God had the power to do the impossible.

Verse 22

It was Credited…or…accounted as in taking inventory.

IOW God deemed him righteous because of his faith.

as in taking inventory.

Verse 23-24

But Abraham being deemed righteous wasn’t only for himself but also for all of us who believe in the same God as Abraham did.

Verse 25

Jesus died for our sins and He was raised to life for our justification.

So when it comes to hopelessness we should remember the Psalmist who wrote:

Psalm 43:5 NLT

5 Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again— my Savior and my God!

Revelation 21:3-4

When we feel like all hope is lost we should:

Change our focal point

If our hope is in our jobs, our spouses, our parents or anything else then we need to shift the focus of our hope back to God.

If our focus is on God we should go ahead and offer up some praise to Him like the psalmist said to do.

If fact:

Hebrews 13:15 KJV 1900

15 By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.

If you don’t have anything else to look forward to in this life you can always set your heart on the day when we receive our eternal reward.

Revelation 21:3–4 NLT

3 I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. 4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.”

There will be no more tears or death or sorrow.

Romans 12:12 NIV (Anglicised, 2011)

12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

Let us learn to be joyful not in circumstances but in the hope we have be given through Christ Jesus our lord and savior.