Hopelessly hopeful… hope for the hopeless… are you praying for something seemingly impossible? Let’s learn from the father of faith – father of many nations and a man of hope.
Romans 4:18 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.
1) What? What did Abraham hope for? He hoped in faith that he would become the father of many nations. v.18 He hoped against hope that a hundred year old man like him and a 90 year old womb good as dead would bear a son!
2) How? How did Abraham hope? Without weakening in faith v19, without wavering through unbelief… He was determinedly hopeful – in fact getting stronger in his faith and this gave glory to God v.20
3) Why? How could he have such confidence? Because he was fully persuaded that God had power to do what He promised. v.21
4) Therefore, Abraham got credit for righteousness – not because of his unwavering faith but because of the power of God. v.22 Abraham believed not in his own strong faith but he put his faith in the power of God and the promise of God. God is able and He keeps his word. That is the basis of hoping against all hope.
5) Application: This is a lesson for us v. 24. What for? for us who believe in God who raised Jesus from the dead. Jesus died for our sins but it did not end there – Jesus was raised to life so that we too can be declared righteous before God (justification) v. 25
While faith is believing God for what He did; hope is believing God for what He will do.
Faith = hope; Hope = faith but these two should be based on the character of God: His power and His promise. (Not on our faith – even if strong, unwavering and firm!)
Cheer up all who are hopelessly hopeful! As long as there is life, there is hope. For there are 3 things that remain: faith, hope and love. 1 Corinthians 13:13.
