Romans 4:17 - …as it is written, “I have made you the father of many nations” - in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist.
GENERAL SUMMARY: Abraham’s being the ‘father of many nations’ was part of the covenant that God made with him when he called him out to be the father of the Hebrew nation (Genesis 17:4-5).
God was able to speak of him as the father of many nations long before he ever even had a child because God knew those things would exist in due time; he himself would bring them into existence by his omnipotent power. 
DIGGING DEEPER: As it is written: This is a quote from Genesis 17:4-5. Paul uses it to justify calling Abraham the ‘father of us all’ back in verse 16.
I have made you the father of many nations: As we noted in our last post, Abraham is not only the physical father of the Jews, he is the spiritual father of all who believe in God’s promises by faith. This would include Jews as well as Gentiles from all parts of the world. Thus, he is the father of many nations.
Notice that this statement is in the past tense. At the time this statement was made, Abraham had NO children. Yet, God spoke of him as already being the father of many nations.
In the presence of the God in whom he believed: God declared that Abraham was the father of many nations long before he was so in the natural realm. God is able to do this because he is not limited by time.
As humans, we have a one-way ticket through life. Once we begin the journey through time, we can’t stop it. We can’t reverse it. Much as we would like to, we can’t go back and re-live yesterday or do things differently. Neither do we know exactly what the future holds, because we can’t see it or visit it.
For ages man has daydreamed of time machines which would allow us to do these things, but that will never happen because God has placed us in chronological time and we can’t alter that.
God, however, is not limited by time; he transcends it. Think of it this way: If God held out his hand with his palm up, and you drew a line from one side of his palm to the other, that line would represent time. God is not bound by that line. He exists eternally outside/above it. He is sovereign over it; time does not control God, he controls time. God existed eternally before he created time and he will exist forever after time is all used up.
God can see all the parts of the line on his palm simultaneously. This means that he can see all the events of time all at once. At the moment of your birth, he can see the moment you will enter eternity and all of your actions between those two days. This concept is true for the entire earth – everyone and everything in it. Scripture describes it as God knowing the end from the beginning:
Isaiah 46:9-10 – Remember the former things of old; for I am God and there is none else; I am God and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure…
God was able to testify that Abraham was the father of many nations even though he was childless at the time that statement was made, because he already saw what Abraham would eventually become through the fulfillment of the promises he made to him. In other words, God was looking at the outcome of his intervention in Abraham’s life. The moment he made that promise to Abraham he already saw the fulfillment of it.
We could also think of it this way: The things which God promises are so certain, he can speak of them as if they were already in existence. Nothing can stop God from fulfilling his promises or exercising his will. He is even able to give life where death exists.
Who gives life to the dead: In this particular instance, Paul’s statement that God gives life to the dead may refer to several things:
- He may have been referring to the physical bodies of Abraham and Sarah, which could be considered dead because they no longer had the ability to bear children.
- He could have been referring to the life of Isaac. In a sense he could be considered dead because his parents were too old to conceive. It would take an act of God to bring him life.
- He may have been speaking about the Gentiles (or mankind in general) who are dead in trespasses and sin with no way to attain spiritual life by themselves.
- He may have been referring to the resurrection of the dead, which God will bring to pass on the last day.
Perhaps Paul had all four examples in mind, because they all show that God’s power and authority are limitless. He has the power to bring life where death exists.
FYI, it is always good to remind ourselves that Satan has limited power. He can steal, he can kill, and he can destroy (for a limited time), but he can never give life. That power belongs to God alone.
And calls into existence the things that do not exist: God called Abraham the father of many nations when in the natural realm, he was not. Likewise, God called the Gentiles his offspring before they had even heard the message of the gospel (I Corinthians 1:27-28). They were not yet his children during the time of Abraham, but he called them so and by his power and grace made them so.
We could also put it this way: Abraham believed that God was omnipotent (all powerful). That omnipotence is proved or shown by the two results it brings about:
- One, God is able to bring what is dead to life again. We just looked at four examples of this (the bodies of Abraham and Sarah, all mankind being resurrected on the last day, etc.).
- Two, God can cause something that never existed previously to come into existence. For example, in creation he made all things out of nothing (let there be light). God simply spoke and it was done; He commanded and creation sprang into being.
Abraham believed in the power/omnipotence of God, and he applied that to his personal situation. Because he believed that God could raise the dead, he could believe that God would bring new life to his (and Sarah’s) dead reproductive system(s). Because he believed that God could create something out of nothing, he could believe that God would give him seed/offspring/children even though he had none at the present time.
Furthermore, Abraham could also believe that God would make the Gentiles his people, even though that was not the present case:
Hosea 2:23 - And I will sow her for myself in the earth; and I will have mercy upon her that had not obtained mercy; and I will say to them who were not my people, you are my people; and they shall say, you are my God.
Can we now apply this concept to our own personal lives, like Abraham did? 
God can be trusted to keep his promises and covenants because he is almighty, eternal and unchanging. He is the Creator, who makes things out of nothing. As such, he can both raise the dead to life and guarantee the existence of things which are not yet as if they already existed. One word from his mouth and his creative power will fulfill his will/every command.
Therefore, regardless of how impossible it seems, the promises God gives us are both credible and possible, because He is the one who made them.
It was impossible for Abraham to have children; it was impossible for Gentiles to become children of God, yet God made both things happen.
What promise seems impossible to you? Do you have a son or daughter who is still dead in trespasses and sin? God is able to bring them spiritual life. Do you have a health problem that science can’t cure? God is well able to restore you. Are your finances or your relationships or your reputation dead? Is your ministry failing? Does the situation seem impossible? That’s okay – if you have faith in the promises of God, he can restore those things or open up a door to something new.
Romans 4:18 – In hope he believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been told, “So shall your offspring be.”
GENERAL SUMMARY: We know that Abraham was considered righteous before God because of his faith in the power of God to keep his promises. Specifically, Abraham believed in the promise of the Messiah, who was to come from his seed. It was through the Messiah that ‘many nations’ (the Gentile world) would also become the children of God.
DIGGING DEEPER: In hope: When Paul says ‘in hope’ he refers to probable evidence or a reason for hoping which comes from nature. It is based on carnal reasoning; it reflects that which seems possible in the natural realm.
For instance, if you’ve performed your job well this year, you might hope to get a raise. There wouldn’t be anything supernatural about your hope; it is a reasonable possibility based on what you’ve done.
He believed against hope: This use of the word hope signifies faith in God, regardless of how incredible/impossible the thing itself seems to be.
In other words, Abraham was fully aware of the apparent impossibility of having a son, but he believed in the promises of God nonetheless. He kept his eyes and his mind focused on the power of God, believing for what was contrary to all human hope.
That he would become the father of many nations as he had been told, “So shall your offspring be”: Specifically, Abraham believed he would have a son, and eventually his descendants would be as numerous as the stars in the sky or the sand on the seashore.
Romans 4:19 – He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was a good as dead (since he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah’s womb.
GENERAL SUMMARY: Abraham’s circumstances dictated that he and Sarah would never have a child (they were both well past the age of having children). But Abraham’s faith did not fail when he considered the impossibility of his situation.
DIGGING DEEPER: When he considered his own body… or the barrenness of Sarah’s womb: If you looked at Abraham’s situation in the natural realm, you would say it was completely hopeless. He was almost 100 and she was 90:
Genesis 17:17 – Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed and said to himself, “Shall a child be born to a man who is a hundred years old? Shall Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?”
Not only was Sarah well into menopause, she had been barren all her life! From the standpoint of procreation, it could truly be said that both of their bodies were ‘as good as dead’ (Genesis 18:11). This was a true and fair assessment of their situation.
He did not weaken in faith: Nevertheless, Abraham did not allow his circumstances to weaken his faith. He did not consider his (or Sarah’s) age to be an obstacle that was too hard for God to overcome. He firmly believed that Jehovah was omnipotent and as such, he was perfectly capable of giving him a son. 
Let’s make sure we understand what was happening here. Abraham wasn’t hiding his head in the sand or pretending his problems didn’t exist. He fully acknowledged his situation, but at the same time he refused to believe that God was powerless to help him. He put his circumstances exactly where they belong – under the authority of God – by focusing his heart and mind upon the God who makes all things possible (Ephesians 1:17-22).
You can bet that Satan tried again and again to get Abraham’s eyes/focus off the Lord and back onto the impossibility of his situation. If he could successfully trick Abraham into doing that, he would win the victory.
But time and time again, Abraham refused. He continued to place his faith in God’s sovereignty and at the appointed time, he was rewarded for it. (It should be noted that the promise took many years to reach fulfillment, which means Abraham had lots and lots of time and multiple opportunities to slip into doubt, but he never did. He is an example we need to keep in the forefront of our minds.)
‘Weakness of faith’ is something that every Christian must battle. When we are faced with an impossible situation, we often vacillate between faith and fear or between confidence and doubt. This arises from a conflict between our fallen nature (fear & doubt) and our spirit (faith & confidence). Fortunately, God gives us the ability to cast down doubt and fear. When we do, faith takes hold of the promise of God and makes us victorious.
Matthew 21:21 Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If you have faith, and doubt not, you shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if you shall say unto this mountain, Be removed, and be cast into the sea; it shall be done.
Here is the key: Doubt looks at what man is incapable of doing and gives up all hope. Faith looks at the strength, power and authority of God and embraces victory.
Romans 4:20 – No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God,
No unbelief made him waiver concerning the promise of God: Abraham was not moved, perplexed, uncertain or concerned. He believed that God would fulfill his promises - period.
Indeed, there is no reason for any of us to experience uncertainty about the promises of God, because they are made by our Father, who is all powerful, unchanging, completely truthful and utterly faithful. With him, all things are possible (Mark 10:27, Luke 1:37).
Knowing who God is made it possible for Abraham to believe God without discouragement or doubt. The same is true for us. If you are having difficulty holding on to your faith in a particular situation, take some time to read and study the nature of God. You will soon move back into the realm of faith.
But he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God: When we think of giving glory to God, our first thought is a verbal offering of praise. But this phrase does not necessarily refer to that. It can be said of anything which brings God glory, whether in word, thought or action.
In this case, Abraham glorified God by the firmness with which he believed in his promises. This conduct honored God because it was a witness that God was worthy of full confidence and implicit trust. Every Christian who fully believes in the promises of God honors him in the same way. The sheer number of believers is a testimony to the lost that God is trustworthy and faithful.
Romans 4:21 - …fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised.
Abraham had full assurance of faith that even though the promise was made long ago, and even though there were numerous obstacles in the way, nothing was too hard for God Almighty. This was the undeniable fact upon which his faith rested.
Romans 4:22 – That is why his faith was ‘counted to him as righteousness.”
Scripture tells us a lot about the life of Abraham, including the following:
- He was NOT considered righteous because God appeared to him/called him out to start the Hebrew nation (Acts 7:1-3).
- He was NOT considered righteous because he left Ur and wandered in the land of Canaan.
- He was NOT considered righteous when he built an altar to God and worshipped him (Genesis 13:18).
- He was not considered righteous when he defeated the alliance of kings, rescued Lot and gave a tenth of everything to Melchizedek (Genesis 14:14-24).
It was only later, when He glorified God by believing his humanly impossible promise of a seed (Savior) that his faith was counted as righteousness.
Now we see more clearly how faith brought righteousness to Abraham – he rejected the circumstances which opposed God’s word and instead leaned into the promises of God. He trusted in the goodness, power and faithfulness of God to give him the blessing of a son (Savior), when he could not produce this miracle in his own power. This is a blessing which he otherwise had no right to claim.
The concept of righteousness by faith is also reflected in God’s ‘bookkeeping’:
Daniel 7:9-10 – “As I [Daniel] looked, thrones were placed, and the Ancient of Days took his seat; his clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames; its wheels were burning fire. A stream of fire issued and came out from before him; a thousand thousands served him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him; the court sat in judgment and the books were opened.
Now obviously, God has no need to keep written records. He knows everything about us including our thoughts, actions and motivations. He can instantly review every moment of our lives at any time. The analogy of the record book is for us – it helps us understand certain spiritual principles, like justification by faith. 
In an accounting ledger there are debits (negative cash flows) and credits (positive cash flows). If we were making a spiritual comparison, sin would be debits. The number of debits in each person’s account is astronomical. We are drowning in the debt of sin.
This is the point where Satan steps in to deceive people. He tries to convince mankind that our works are recorded as credits. According to his lie, if you do enough good works, this will cancel out the sinful debits, and you will earn your way into heaven.
Let me stress once again - this is a blasphemous, demonically inspired lie. As the apostle Paul has so clearly shown, good works DO NOT count as credits that offset your sin. The truth is that there is no way for you to have anything ‘credited’ to your spiritual account.
The ONLY thing that will credit/remove debits from your account is the blood of Jesus Christ the Messiah. When you surrender your life to him, he uses his blood to pay for the debits in your personal account. Because of faith/belief in him and his atoning work, we are freed from the bondage of sin and the curse of the law. Christ makes it possible for us to enter heaven where we will spend eternity with the Trinity.
Abraham, the father of faith, understood that there is absolutely nothing within us that will make us righteous; faith in the promises of God is required. Righteousness can only be obtained through the spotless lamb of God, who was ordained to be our Savior before the foundation of the world.
And once again Paul proves to his readers that the doctrine of justification by faith through the imputed righteousness of the Messiah is not a new doctrine. It is as old as the foundation of the world (I Peter 1:19-20) and it was revealed back in days of Abraham.
Romans 4:23 – But the words, ‘it was counted to him’ were not written for his sake alone,
The faith of Abraham is not recorded merely as a historical fact. It was not preserved solely as a reason to honor him. It has a much larger purpose.
I Corinthians 10:11 – Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come…
This truth applies to the whole of the Old Testament. It was written for the use, learning, instruction and profit of the saints under the New Testament dispensation. This is particularly true of Abraham’s faith for receiving righteousness and/or the imputation of righteousness of faith to him for justification.
Abraham is a type or example of how mankind can be accepted in God’s sight – through faith in the promise of the Redeemer.
Romans 4:24-25 - …but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.
GENERAL SUMMARY: If Abraham was the only person who was to be justified by faith, then it is a cruel punishment to emphasize his justification so much in the scriptures. Fortunately, that is not the case. We too can be justified by faith in God’s promise of a Savior who died for our sin and was resurrected on the third day for our justification. 
DIGGING DEEPER: It is very unlikely that God revealed to Abraham the exact way he planned to work out salvation for mankind. Although Abraham firmly believed the limited revelation God gave him, it is doubtful that he knew who Jesus Christ was or that he would die on a cross and be resurrected on the third day.
Obviously, we have a fuller/more complete understanding of God’s plans:
- Atonement for sin can only by made with a blood sacrifice (Leviticus 17:11, Hebrews 9:22).
- God loved mankind so much, he was willing to give his only Son a blood sacrifice for us (John 3:16). This event was foreshadowed by the Old Testament temple sacrifices, especially the Passover lamb.
- Unlike animal sacrifices, Jesus paid for sin once and for all (Hebrews 9:12).
- After his death, God raised him up as the first fruits of the resurrected life that all believers will experience (Acts 10:40, I Corinthians 15:20-23).
- Jesus now sits at the right hand of the Father, serving as not only our Savior but our Mediator (I Timothy 2:5).
- We are justified by faith in his atoning work.
The bottom line is that the principle of faith has not changed. Abraham exercised a firm belief in the limited revelation he received, and he obtained justification because of it. We are also justified by a firm belief in the revelation we received; it’s just that our revelation of God’s plan of salvation is much greater than anything Abraham enjoyed.
Let me offer you some encouragement:
It seems like we never run out of science fiction stories or movies that speak about time travel. This is understandable, because my guess is that each one of us would love the opportunity to go back in time and change something we did or said (or didn’t say/do).
However, as we noted in today’s post, God chose to limit us to chronological time; we will never be able to travel to the past or the future. In light of this, today is a very important day! So, what are you doing today? How are you spending your time? King Solomon gives us this advice:
Ecclesiastes 9:10 – Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might, for there is no work or thought or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol, to which you are going.
In other words, whatever you are doing, make sure you are giving it your full attention and doing your best. Only then can you enjoy the benefits of a job well done – satisfaction, joy, increased knowledge, improved skills, praise from others, etc.
If you find that you are too busy to do a something the ‘right’ way, then perhaps you are too busy!
Let me offer you some relief:
Sadly, Satan has convinced a lot of people that if they are ‘good people’ (they don’t murder anyone and they do good works), they will make it to heaven. He makes that system sound plausible and simple. But the truth is, it’s faulty bookkeeping. It’s also a vicious trap. For example, how many good deeds does it take to make up for a little lie? How many for a big lie? How many good works are required to atone for a one-time marital infidelity, verses living in sexual sin?
A person living under this system would never be able to experience peace or confidence in their salvation, because they could never know if they were doing enough to outweigh their sin.
Thankfully, in the first four chapters of Romans, the apostle Paul makes it very clear that our works can never ‘cancel out’ the debt of our sin. Instead, we can surrender our lives to Christ. When we place our faith in him, he pays the debt we owe, removes us from under the curse of the law and makes us co-heirs with him in the kingdom of heaven.
Even better, we don’t ever have to wonder about our salvation – he guarantees that anyone who believes in him will not fail to inherit eternal life.
I don’t know about you, but I find that to be an immense relief!
Let me offer you some strength:
We all go through different periods in life. Sometimes the sun is shining, and things seem to work out perfectly for us. At other times, our faith is being tested and things are more difficult.
But one thing never changes – at all times and in all circumstances, we have the assurance that God loves us, no matter what! His love is steady and consistent and perfect. It is NOT based on your performance or your bank account or even your works. God loves you because perfect love is a part of his character.
So regardless of what you are facing this week, remember that God loves you so much, he sent Jesus to be the atonement for your sin. The whole point behind that love is to welcome you into his eternal kingdom one day!