DAY #231: Romans 4:9-5:5

Abraham was declared righteous by God because of his faith. It was Abraham’s faith, not his faithfulness to certain rituals, that made him righteous. The critical question is: Was he declared righteous only after he had been circumcised, or was it before he was circumcised? Paul uses the term “circumcised” to refer to the whole of the law, because circumcision implies a desire to live under the demands of the law.

Paul immediately answers his own question—God accepted him first, and then he was circumcised later! God called Abraham in Genesis 12, declared him righteous in Genesis 15, then introduced the circumcision ceremony in Genesis 17.

God had already accepted him and declared him to be righteous—even before he was circumcised. So, Abraham is the spiritual father of those who have faith but have not been circumcised. He is the father of those who are made right with God by faith. That makes him the father of Gentiles who have believed in Jesus Christ as Savior. But he is also the spiritual father of those who have been circumcised, meaning the Jews.

The promise (or covenant) that God gave Abraham said that Abraham would be the father of many nations (Genesis 17:2-4) and that the entire world would be blessed through him (Genesis 12:3). This promise was fulfilled in Jesus Christ, who was from Abraham’s line. Not only was Abraham the physical father of God’s chosen nation, the Jews, he was also the father of God’s people today, the church. Paul points out that the promise to Abraham to be the father of many nations extends beyond Israel to all the nations of the world.

Abraham believed God’s promise that he would become the father of many nations. He believed it against all hope; that is, beyond any possible natural hope, because he was too old to be a father at the age of one hundred and his wife was well past childbearing age and had never been able to have children. Yet Abraham realized that God’s ability to fulfill his promises outweighed the circumstances. So, Abraham’s faith did not weaken even when they, a childless couple, had been promised descendants as numerous as the stars. It was impossible, but Abraham believed in God.

Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise because he was able to take God at his word. Abraham persisted in believing; thus, his faith grew stronger. He was able to trust in God to do what seemed humanly impossible, and even to glorify God before the results were apparent.


What makes us acceptable to God is not our works, but simply exercising the kind of faith Abraham had. Jesus died because of our sins, taking the penalty we deserved, according to God’s plan. Just as God brought life from Abraham and Sarah (even though they thought they were “dead” and unable to have children), so God raised Jesus from the dead. His resurrection made us right with God.


Not only has Christ made us right with God, but he also has given us personal access to God, bringing us into this place of highest privilege where we now stand. We have been brought into a place of favor with God. Instead of being his enemies, we are his friends—in fact, his own children.

Our expectation, and a right one at that, is that God will keep His promises and that He will never disappoint us. He has proven Himself completely trustworthy.



SO WHAT? (what will I do with what I have read today?)

How is our faith built? It has been my experience that as I trust God and His promises and step out in faith upon those promises, He builds my faith. He build my courage and boldness. So, a natural question is - how well do I know the promises of God? Let me be even more direct this morning - when is the last step of faith you took - based upon a promise of God?

Remember Hebrews 11:6 (NIV) this morning - "And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him." This verse is saying that the only way you can please God is when you take a risk and step out in faith.

In Luke 19 Jesus told the story of the importance of risk taking. It’s the parable of the ten minas. He said if you don’t take risks you don't have any faith. If all you ever do is it play it safe in life, then you really don’t have any faith. If you don’t have any faith you’re being unfaithful. I love the way He concludes the story. Luke 19:26 in the message bible says “Risk your life and get more than you ever dreamed of; play it safe and you end up holding the bag.”

I love that, because God is saying lay it on the line – no wimpy faith, no wimpy lifestyle. Be a person who will take risks for eternity, risks for the kingdom of God and I will give you a life you’ve never dreamed of. God is looking for those types of people!

In another passage of the bible, Philippians 2: 29-30 God says this about Ephroditus “Welcome him in the Lord with great joy and honor men like him because he almost died for the work of Christ, risking his life to make up for the help you could not give me.” That’s says it all doesn’t it? Epharoditus risked his life for the work of God. What else do you need to know about him? For me, nothing. That verse says it all. He was not a guy who was willing to play it safe, but lay it all on the line. It says we’re to honor men like that. Men and women who risk their lives for the sake of Christ.

When I read that kind of thing, I ask myself, “Is my commitment to Christ deep enough to cause me to risk anything?” I think it is. How about you? Is your commitment to Christ deep enough to risk anything? To risk your time, to risk your reputation, to risk your finances. When He tells you to do something are you willing to do it, to take the risk? Think about that one throughout your day!