"And being fully persuaded that, what He has promised, He was able also to perform."
Romans 4:21
Today: The Faith of Abraham
Today’s verse is only a phrase in Paul’s description of Abraham’s faith in Romans 4.
“And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about a hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara’s womb: He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what He had promised, He was able also to perform. And therefore, it was imputed to him for righteousness” (Romans 4:19-22). [1]
Abraham’s faith is to be commended. Think of it, with no Bible and no pastor or priest to counsel him, he simply believed God and took Him at His Word. This is what he believed.
“And being fully persuaded.”
Abraham was “fully assured.” He had a conviction that filled his mind, God can do what He promised.
“Is your God too small? The God of Abraham was able to perform what He had promised, and Abraham was fully convinced of this”[2] (Guzik).
“…that is, the glory which Abraham’s faith gave to God consisted in this, that, firm in the persuasion of God’s ability to fulfill his promise, no difficulties shook him”[3] (JFB).
“That, what He had promised.”
God made the promise to Abraham that He would build a great nation from his offspring. Abraham, well past the age of procreation, and Sarah, whose womb was “dead” (Romans 4:19), still believed what God said He would do! Humanly, a total impossibility! But “with God, all things are possible.”
“He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief… (Romans 4:20a).
Since God could create the universe in seven days, indeed, He could awaken Sarah’s dead womb and give Abraham seed to produce the promised son. What’s so hard about that? And if God could do that for Abraham, He can surely awaken, give new life, and save a sinful soul today!
“‘Many find it harder to believe that God can love them, notwithstanding their sinfulness, than the hundred-years-old patriarch did to believe that he should be the father of many nations. Confidence in God’s Word, a full persuasion that He can do what seems to us impossible, is as necessary in the one case as in the other. The sinner honors God, in trusting His grace, as much as Abraham did in trusting His power’”[4] (Hodge).
“He was able also to perform.”
Unfortunately, in this evil world, we see and hear promises made daily that people never intended to keep or do not have the “power” to do so. God never made a promise that He could not keep, and He fully intends to do what He says He will do. Abraham believed this. His faith in God’s ability to perform His promises he never doubted.
“…but was strong in faith, giving glory to God” (Romans 4:20b).
“Is anything too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed, I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son” (Genesis 18:14).
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1).
Quote: Lord, in these end-time days, may God grant us the faith of Abraham, to see what is yet invisible, counting our God faithful to keep His promises! Amen.
[1] This is just one sentence in Paul’s letter. Understanding the context, we will borrow verse 21 for our thoughts today.
[2] Guzik’s quote is from the Enduring Word Commentary, the electronic version in eSword. Romans 4:21.
[3] Jamison, Fausset, and Brown. Jamison-Fausset-Brown’s Commentary, the electronic version in eSword. Romans 4:21.
[4] Hodge’s quote is found in the Popular New Testament, A Popular Commentary on the New Testament, the electronic version in eSword. Emphasis mine.