“Abraham, Our Father in the Faith” (Romans 4:17–25)

“Abraham, Our Father in the Faith” (Romans 4:17–25)

Pastor Cameron Jungels

Eastside Baptist Church

Sunday AM, August 20, 2017

 

Romans 4:17–25 (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.  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.

 

Abraham serves as a model of faith for all who believe in Jesus Christ and receive God’s gracious gift of justification.

So, what does Abraham’s example teach us about the nature of faith?

 

1. Abraham’s faith was in God (17).

2. Abraham’s faith meant acknowledging man’s helplessness (18–19).
   

3. Abraham’s faith meant trusting that God would keep his promises (20–22).
   

4. Abraham’s faith becomes a model for all Christians (23–25).
   • The Christian’s faith is in God’s promise that justification is based on Jesus’ atoning death and resurrection.

1. The object of the Christian’s faith: The God of the impossible, who raised Jesus from the dead.
2. The source of the Christian’s faith: The promise of God that Jesus’ death and resurrection atone for our sins (25).
3. The result of the Christian’s faith: Justification apart from human works to the glory of God (23-24a, 25b).