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.
Salvation comes through divine power, not human effort.
That's why the promise had to be fulfilled through Isaac and not Ishmael. Ishmael was the product of natural human effort. Isaac was the product of supernatural intervention. Which makes Ishmael and Isaac the perfect illustrations of salvation. True salvation cannot be the product of human effort, only divine intervention.
And Paul goes on to describe Abraham's faith.
Abraham hoped against all hope (v18). He hoped when there was no realistic hope left. There was no humanly possible way for Abraham and Sarah to have children in their 90's. It just wasn't possible. And yet Abraham hoped against all hope. He believed God.
Abraham did not have a weak faith (v19), he had a strong faith (v20). He believed God even though after 25 years he still did not have a child. The reason Abraham never lost hope and continued to have strong faith year after year was because he believed two things about God - he believed in the God of creation (He could create a son) and the God of resurrection (should he be required to slay Isaac, God could resurrect him). His faith was based upon the character of God.
He was not discouraged by his own human, natural weakness (v19). Yes, Abraham was utterly impotent, but he knew that God is all powerful.
His faith did not waver (v20). Yes, Abraham had moments where he doubted. He was not perfect. But he struggled through those doubts and landed on the side of conviction. And in fact, that struggling likely only increased his faith.
His faith also gave glory to God (v20). When Abraham believed God's promise, even though it was utterly outlandish from a human perspective, it was a proclamation of God's faithfulness and gave glory to God. When we doubt God, we dishonor Him. When we believe Him, we glorify Him.
He lived in confidence of God's power (v21). He had no hope in his human resources, but total confidence in God.
And what happens when we have that kind of faith? God credits His righteousness to us. MacArthur...
He did not have righteousness, only God had that. But because of his faith, God gave him righteousness and that's how the transaction works. We believe God and it isn't on the merit of our believing but it is that our believing receives the gift He offers. God gave him righteousness. And the therefore indicates consequence. The ground of his justification was his faith. He believed God therefore he was made right with God.
I love v23. This whole story was not written down for Abraham's sake or for Paul's sake, or even for the sake of the Romans. It was written down for our sake. We, who believe in God, who raised Christ Jesus from the dead, who was the sacrifice for our sins and bore the penalty completely. We will be made righteous if we believe God.
Tomorrow's scripture focus: Romans 5:1-5
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