Abraham Looks Up at the Stars Outside His TentBible World
4:21Romans 4:21
And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.
Abraham was fully persuaded that what God had promised He was able also to perform, not staggering at the promise through unbelief but strong in faith, giving glory to God. Faith is full confidence that God has power to do what He has promised. Because of that persuasion righteousness was imputed to Abraham. The same imputation will be made to those who believe in God who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead, who was delivered for offenses and raised for justification. That record was not written for Abraham's sake alone but for believers also, for whatever was written aforetime was written for learning, that through patience and comfort of the Scriptures there might be hope.
In connection with Romans 4 and 5, such faith enables human beings to grasp the divine nature through Christ, who in His humanity grasped divinity and overcame. The birth of Isaac shows that people cannot produce spiritual good by their own power, but God works it in every submissive, believing soul. As the promised child came through faith, spiritual life is begotten through faith, and believers are enabled to do works of righteousness. Zacharias knew Abraham had received a child in old age because he believed God, yet when told that he and Elizabeth would have a son he briefly focused on human weakness and forgot God's power. His doubt contrasts with Mary's childlike willingness to accept God's word.
God is also able to accomplish through His people the work He gives them to do. When they live by every word He has spoken in perfect obedience His good promises are fulfilled to them, while when they fall short of perfect obedience those promises remain beyond their reach. When asking for promised gifts — including pardon for sin, the Holy Spirit, a Christlike character and temper, wisdom, and strength for His work — believers are to trust the promise and give thanks without waiting for outward evidence. The gift is theirs in the promise and will be realized when they need it.
Faith still says God is able, so believers must increase in faith under present opportunities and when apparent impossibilities bar the way must not fail nor be discouraged. In trial believers can trust God even when they cannot see or act, because whatever He has spoken will be done and His promises cannot fail. The verse calls for simple faith, a firm reliance and trust that presses on toward eternal life to see the inside of glory. Such faith drives back the powers of darkness and gives a clear, sweet atmosphere to live and breathe in.
Abraham was fully persuaded that what God had promised He was able also to perform, not staggering at the promise through unbelief but strong in faith, giving glory to God. Faith is full confidence that God has power to do what He has promised. Because of that persuasion righteousness was imputed to Abraham. The same imputation will be made to those who believe in God who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead, who was delivered for offenses and raised for justification. That record was not written for Abraham's sake alone but for believers also, for whatever was written aforetime was written for learning, that through patience and comfort of the Scriptures there might be hope.
In connection with Romans 4 and 5, such faith enables human beings to grasp the divine nature through Christ, who in His humanity grasped divinity and overcame. The birth of Isaac shows that people cannot produce spiritual good by their own power, but God works it in every submissive, believing soul. As the promised child came through faith, spiritual life is begotten through faith, and believers are enabled to do works of righteousness. Zacharias knew Abraham had received a child in old age because he believed God, yet when told that he and Elizabeth would have a son he briefly focused on human weakness and forgot God's power. His doubt contrasts with Mary's childlike willingness to accept God's word.
God is also able to accomplish through His people the work He gives them to do. When they live by every word He has spoken in perfect obedience His good promises are fulfilled to them, while when they fall short of perfect obedience those promises remain beyond their reach. When asking for promised gifts — including pardon for sin, the Holy Spirit, a Christlike character and temper, wisdom, and strength for His work — believers are to trust the promise and give thanks without waiting for outward evidence. The gift is theirs in the promise and will be realized when they need it.
Faith still says God is able, so believers must increase in faith under present opportunities and when apparent impossibilities bar the way must not fail nor be discouraged. In trial believers can trust God even when they cannot see or act, because whatever He has spoken will be done and His promises cannot fail. The verse calls for simple faith, a firm reliance and trust that presses on toward eternal life to see the inside of glory. Such faith drives back the powers of darkness and gives a clear, sweet atmosphere to live and breathe in.