The Results of Abraham's Faith

Romans 4:18-22


Introductory Thoughts

v We have been talking about salvation by grace through faith, and in looking at faith, Romans has told us in detail about the faith of Abraham, the father of the faithful.

§ We learned about the vital doctrine of imputation, that our sins are paid for and the account is closed.

§ We saw the blessed doctrine of eternal security, that once truly saved, the believer is in a different relationship with God, and will not be lost.

§ We saw that Abraham was the father of all the faithful, and that as believers, we are children of Abraham, true Jews of the heart.

§ And we saw the source of Abraham’s faith. Abraham was able to believe God for the truly amazing promises made because Abraham knew God. Abraham knew who God was, and Abraham knew what God was like.

· And now, we see the results of the great faith that Abraham, the Father of the Faithful, had.

1. The Physical Result: Heritage— "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."


a. “…who, against hope…” Consider the enormity of God’s promise to Abraham—Sarah thought it was funny. Gen 18:9-15

(1) The promise was awesome in scope—the father of many nations

(2) The promise was massive in quantity—more descendants than the stars of heaven.

(3) The Promise was tremendous in its effect, for hidden in it was the promise of the Redeemer.

(4) The promise was against hope, contrary to hope—the word “hope” is not a word of wishful thinking. Properly applied and understood, even the word in its secular usage implies a reasonable expectation of success. In Biblical terms, “hope” implies a certain expectation of success. This promise was beyond any reasonable idea! Titus 2:13 "looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,"

1. Rom 5:1-5

2. Rom 8:24-25 "For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance."

3. Col 1:1-5

b. Hope for the hopeless— believed in hope … Abraham, in spite of having no plausible reason to believe and hope, put his hope, faith, and trust in what God had said, and moved on.

(1) In this case, hope was not reasonable

(2) In this case, hope was not the least bit plausible.

(3) But Abraham pinned his hopes on God’s promise. Why? Because Abraham knew God!

c. The Heritage—the father of nations. that he might become the father of many nations

(1) Father of the Arab peoples

(2) Father of the Jewish peoples


2. The Universal Result—ONE of the descendants—according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be…”

a. One SEED, the same as the “Seed of the woman…”

b. But the SEED is made up of many. Gen 15:5 "And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be."

(1) But, who are these people?

(2) Even the Arabs and Jews taken together could not be this numberless.

(3) The answer is that in the promise to Abraham is hidden the full scope of God’s plan for man

(4) In the Promise to Abraham: a Savior for the whole world.

c. The SEED is Christ and His people—all who would ever believe in Him

(1) The saved are Numberless as the stars—Rev 7:9-14

(2) The saved, Abraham’s children, are from every tribe and nation-- Rev 7:9…. a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb

(3) The Saved, Abraham’s children, are the Children of the Promise— Gal 3:24-26 "Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. 26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus."

(4) All this is fulfilled, therefore, in Christ— Gal 3:16 Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.

3. The Nature of Abraham’s Faith

a. Not Weak--19 And being not weak in faith,

(1) Sometimes, we just have to be strong. It may be that we ignore the possible consequences, it may be that we disregard them, but sometimes we just have to stand.

(2) No where is this more important than in the spiritual warfare we face daily—Eph 6:10-14

(3) Abraham was not weak in faith, he took his stand on what God had promised, and he stood on God’s Word.

b. Did Not Consider the obstacles— “…he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb…”

(1) Again, these were formidable obstacles, such as no man could overcome.

(a) His body
(b) Her body
(c) The fact that there were no other elderly people in Abram’s time that had been so blessed.
(d) Sarah had laughed at the idea that they would even have relations at that age, let alone a child!

(2) It was not that Abraham thought about it and said, “well, I guess God can do it,” or “it’s possible,” it was that Abraham did not even consider the obstacles!

c. Did not Waver “…20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God…"

(1) Abraham staggered not, he did not waver, he did not allow unbelief to be a factor.

(2) Heb 3:5-19—when unbelief takes over

(3) James 1:5-8 "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways."

(4) Why did he not waver—whose promise was it? “…20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief…” This was the God that Abraham KNEW—not just knew about, but knew personally.

(5) This was God, Abraham’s FRIEND—(James 2:23) "And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness." And he was called the friend of God."

(6) God had saved Abraham, God had justified Abraham, and therefore Abraham was called God’s friend. Are there any friends of God hearing these words or reading them? If you are His, you are His friend!


d. Fully Convinced— “…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..."

(1) The more he believed, the more God “helped his unbelief…”

(2) He gave all the glory to God for his faith.

(3) He was fully persuaded, fully convinced—why?—2 Tim 1:12 "For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day."

(4) He knew God’s abilities, he knew God’s faithfulness—21 "And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform."

4. The Spiritual Result—Imputation. 22 And therefore "it was accounted to him for righteousness."

a. What kind of faith is saving faith?

b. Characteristics:

(1) The kind that believes despite obstacles.

(2) The kind that is not weak nor wavering— 1 John 5:13 "These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God."

(3) The kind that does not claim any glory or ability for itself.

(4) The kind that is fully convinced in the faithfulness and the ability of the object of the faith.

c. The Result of Saving Faith—a paid, clear, closed account.

Applications

1. Mere assent to facts does not equal salvation

2. Repeating phrases does not equal salvation

3. NO work can equal salvation.

4. Only by being fully convinced by the convicting power of the Holy Spirit, can anyone be saved.

5. When you are really saved, there will be no doubt about the promise or about the One who made the promise.