Romans 4
Romans 4:20-22
- He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;
- And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.
- And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.
It would be easy to look at the works of Abraham and declare him righteous in the world's eyes. He took a massive step, traveling thousands of miles to the promised land. He fathered a nation. He gave to Melchizedek, the priest of God. He kept true to God in a land where God was not honoured. But all these things stem from his faith in God. he had amazing faith, and it is this faith that gained him salvation. We cannot hold on to salvation by our own efforts. Abraham nearly sacrificed his own son, he lied about his wife, claiming her to be his sister, he ran to Egypt when the going got tough, he argued with his nephew and so on. Yet, he received righteousness from God.
How sure are you that God can, and will fulfil his promises in you? Abraham was no more able to have children with Sarah at that age than we are able to lift the London Eye in one hand. It is a measure of your trust in God. However, Abraham would still not have received that promise if he had not acted in faith. He did have to physically lie with his wife so that Issac could be conceived. His trust in God led to appropriate action, doing his part to bring it about. If, for example we believe that God has a new bigger house for us, yet we do not look online for houses for sale, visit an estate agent, or look out for "For Sale" signs then we will not get any house, never mind a bigger one.
To enlarge on the well known verses: Action comes from faith, faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
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