Faith and Hope
Romans 4:18-25
📖 Scripture
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.
📝 Scripture Summary
Abraham believed God’s promise even when there seemed to be no reason to hope. He did not waver in faith, even though his body and Sarah’s womb were as good as dead. He was fully persuaded that God could do what He promised. This faith was credited to him as righteousness, and this applies also to us who believe in God today.
💡 Memory Verse
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. – Romans 5:1
🔎 Reflection
Against All Hope (4:18–21)
Though faced with human impossibility—his old age and Sarah’s barrenness—Abraham still hoped for a multitude of descendants, not out of naïve optimism, but because of his confidence in God. His hope was anchored in the character and power of the One who promised he would be the father of many nations. He did not waver in unbelief but drew strength in faith. When our circumstances seem hopeless, do we let our limitations drain us of faith or do we find strength through faith in God’s promises? Faith is not a denial of reality but a confident trust in God’s ability to fulfill His word. Scripture invites us to hold fast to the belief that God is both able and faithful to do what He has promised.
What uncertain or seemingly hopeless situation are you currently facing? Ask God to strengthen your faith and renew your hope in His promises.
Christ, Our Righteousness (4:22–25)
Abraham’s faith was “credited to him as righteousness” (v. 22), and Paul emphasizes that this applies not only to Abraham but to us as well. Abraham’s story illustrates the timeless truth that we are made right with God through faith, not by our works. The foundation of our righteousness is not based on our merit but on what God has promised and accomplished. Just as Abraham believed in God’s promise to give him a multitude of descendants, we too are invited to trust in God’s promise of redemption in Jesus. Christ’s death and resurrection secured our justification, and faith is simply our response to that finished work. Jesus is the object and source of our faith. By placing our trust in Him, we are declared righteous before God: restored, forgiven, and accepted.
Reflect on the truth that God credits your faith as righteousness. Give Him thanks for the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ.
🌟 Today’s Inspiration
“Hope and faith are overlapping convictions. Faith is trusting a person, and when you trust that person for something they promise to do in the future, it is indistinguishable from hope.” – John Piper
🙏 Prayer
Lord Jesus, thank you for Your death and resurrection, through which I have been made right with God. I cannot earn Your grace; I gratefully receive it by faith. Strengthen my trust in You and help me live each day in the righteousness You purchased for me. In Your name, amen.
✍️ Essay
Persevering in Faith
A friend of mine was born with a rare genetic disorder. On average, people with this disorder are not expected to live past age twenty while the longest someone can be expected to live with this disorder is until their thirties or, rarely, their forties. This March, my friend celebrated her thirtieth birthday. One thing I can say about her is that she has a strong faith and hope in the Lord, and she perseveres in believing in the Lord and His goodness. She does so daily as she faces various and increasing physical challenges while navigating life in a world that often does not make everyday facilities accessible for people with disabilities.
Today’s passage reminded me of my friend because she continuously believes God is good, holy, worthy, and true, and she makes sure to let others know how He has been faithful to her throughout her life and in her day-to-day as she wrestles with the various emotions and challenges that come with having a terminal disorder. Like Abraham’s faith, her faith is an example of persevering in the Lord, cultivating a heart that trusts Him because of who He is, and knowing that He is there with us in our sufferings. In seemingly hopeless circumstances, we can let our faith be strengthened by God’s promises to be with us for the rest of our lives and to walk alongside us in the new life He has given us.
Written by Lisa Polite