Faith, Promise, and Persuasion

"For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect: Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression. Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all, (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were. 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. And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an 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. Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification" (Romans 4:13-25)

The Importance of Being Fully Persuaded

As Christians, it is essential to be confident and fully persuaded about our salvation, our walk with God, and the promises He has given us. Paul’s words highlight the unwavering faith of Abraham. Despite circumstances that seemed impossible—his advanced age and Sarah’s inability to bear children—Abraham did not doubt God’s promise. Instead, he remained strong in faith and gave glory to God, trusting that God was able to fulfill what He had spoken. This steadfast belief was credited to Abraham as righteousness.

Faith vs. Unbelief

The passage draws attention to the consequences of unbelief. If we have trouble believing what God says in His Word, it reflects shallow faith and a lack of persuasion that God can accomplish what He promises. Abraham’s example teaches that faith must be strong and unwavering. The Israelites, for example, failed to enter the promised land because they were not convinced that God could defeat their enemies. Their unbelief kept them from receiving God’s promise.

Exhortation to Hold Fast in Faith

The writer of Hebrews warns believers against developing an evil heart of unbelief and departing from God. Instead, we are encouraged to support one another daily, maintain steadfast confidence, and not harden our hearts. The failure of those who left Egypt with Moses serves as a cautionary example. They provoked God through unbelief, and as a result, did not enter His rest. If we claim to be born again, we must be fully persuaded that God can do everything He says.