Romans 4:16-21, Faith is the Victory
Romans 4:16-21 Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all, 17 (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were. 18 Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations; according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be. 19 And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara’s womb: 20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; 21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.
Abraham was 100 years old and his wife, Sarah, was 90 years old when God gave the couple the promised heir, Isaac. For 25 years, Abraham waited for God’s promised to be fulfilled. Abraham was 75 years old when he left Ur for Canaan. Abraham waited upon God. Faith that is genuine has a persevering character. Such a faith is patient! Abraham against hope believed in hope! He took God at His Word and trusted God to fulfill it!
The Apostle Paul cited Abraham’s faith for our learning. He wanted his readers to believe God’s way of salvation through Jesus Christ. God indeed opened the dead womb of Sarah who has long passed the age of child-bearing. Abraham’s faith became sight in the fullness of time when Sarah conceived and brought forth Isaac. Our faith in God’s plan of salvation through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ will be a reality when we receive the resurrected the body at Christ’s second coming. Today, we, like Abraham, must take God at His Word, to patiently wait, for our change to come. Hear the blessed truth concerning the resurrection from the dead.
1 Corinthians 15:19-23 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. 20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. 21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. 23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.
1 Corinthians 15:51-54 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
May the hope of the resurrection give us a boldness not to fear death but to face death with faith and assurance of victory through the resurrection. Amen.