A Study of Romans (14)

Hope

Where is you hope today, what do you rest hope in, better yet what is hope;

Hope is 1) a feeling of expectation and desire. a cause or source of hope. grounds for hoping. 2) archaic a feeling of trust.

Soanes, C., & Stevenson, A. (Eds.). (2004). Concise Oxford English dictionary (11th ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Abraham put his hope in God’s promise, that he would be the father of many nations, even when it didn’t make since;

Remember that God promised a child, a son, through Abraham from Sarah - both of which were well beyond that physically;

The Book of Romans The Contradictions of Abraham’s Faith (Verses 18, 19)

The hope against which Abraham believed was natural hope. There could be no hope, no expectation of childbearing according to any natural, human, fleshly consideration. The hope in which Abraham believed was supernatural hope, hope based on faith, hope based on confidence begotten by God’s Word.

Abraham had to put his hope beyond his understanding, he had forget about his and Sarah’s “deadness” - meaning physical inability - and trust God;

The Book of Romans The Contradictions of Abraham’s Faith (Verses 18, 19)

Abraham “considered not” these objections. This does not mean he was unaware of them; he did not let them rob him of faith in God’s promise.

What are you robbing God of with your lack of hope?

Confidence

v. 20 says - “He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God...”

The New King James Version. (1982). (Ro 4:20). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

Abraham may not have understood the how but he never lost vision of the Who (Yahweh) either;

Abraham stayed strong - “strengthened” - in his faith, his faith is a powerful example;

The Book of Romans The Confidence of Abraham’s Faith (Verses 20, 21)

We cannot fail to notice the conviction on which this solid persuasion stood so firmly, that “God is able to perform what He has promised.” That conviction is like a spiritual rock of Gibraltar as a foundation for faith.

But why did he have such faith:

Abraham completely trusted God and some how knew God could bring the dead to life again;

There was no wavering - he confidence was beyond could and locked firmly in would.

Righteousness

Why did God fulfill this promise, even when Abraham and Sarah tried to rush, because Abraham was found righteous - justified, forgiven - in God’s eyes;

Here Paul begins again to share the availability of righteousness to all not a select;

We have such an greater advantage to understanding righteousness than Abraham;

The Book of Romans The People to Whom Righteousness Is Available (Verses 23, 24)

Our faith in God has an even clearer object than did Abraham’s, for we see Him as revealed in His Son Jesus and as powerfully demonstrated in the resurrection of Christ.

Abraham felt God could but we have the understanding of He would be a “Raiser of the dead”;

Righteousness comes through faith.

Summary

v. 24 leads directly into a summary of the gospel;

Jesus’ death - you are delivered from sin because Jesus was found guilty in your place;

Jesus’ resurrection - His resurrection (rising from the death) is what has allowed for justification;

The Book of Romans The Person by Whom Righteousness Is Available (Verse 25)

The Resurrection was God’s declaration that the sacrifice of the cross was sufficient and that it was accepted. The Resurrection is the divine declaration that a believing sinner is justified.

All of this shows God’s grace to an undeserving people that He chooses to bless;

God can make the impossible true, are you willing to trust the unbelievable?