BSF Romans Lesson 7 Day 5
Study of Romans 4:16-25
“There are two Greek words that mean promise. Huposchesis means a promise entered into on conditions. “I promise to do this if you promise to do that.” Epaggelia (Greek #1860) means a promise made out of the goodness of someone’s heart quite unconditionally. It is epaggelia (Greek #1860) that Paul uses for the promise of God. It is as if he is saying, “God is like a human father; he promises to love his children no matter what they do.” . . . It is dependent not on our merit but only on God’s own generous heart.” (William Barclay, emphasis added)
12. Abraham’s offspring
Abraham’s offspring are all people who share his faith in God, including both Jews and Gentiles. God’s promise comes to them by grace through faith, not by obeying laws. It is guaranteed because Jesus died for our sins and was raised from the dead.
Faith is related to grace in the same way works is related to law. (Guzik)
“Faith is the certainty that God is indeed like that. It is staking everything on his love.. . . grace is always something which is unearned and undeserved. The truth is that man can never earn the love of God. He must always find his glory, not in what he can do for God, but in what God has done for him.” (William Barclay)
Abraham’s faith
“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.”” (Romans 4:18 ESV)
(Abraham) “ fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised.” (Romans 4:21 ESV)
Abraham is the father of us all.
Abraham’s offspring include more than his physical descendants.
“For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical. But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God.” (Romans 2:28-29 ESV)
12. Abraham’s faith
- “Even when there was no reason for hope, Abraham kept hoping—believing…” (Romans 4:18a NLT)
- He believed what God said: You will become a father of many nations.
- His faith did not weaken or waver when he was too old (100) and Sarah remained barren. (Romans 4:19, 20)
- “He grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God” (Romans 4:20 ESV)
- Abraham remained “fully convinced that God was able to do what he promised.” (Romans 4:21 ESV)
- “. . . Because of Abraham’s faith, God counted him as righteous.” (Romans 4:22 NLT)
13a. Abraham’s faith
Abraham had strong faith in God’s promise, even when it seemed impossible. He trusted God’s power and did not give up while waiting.
Abraham believed God despite his circumstances, which reminds me to trust God even when I cannot see how He will fulfill His promise when it takes way longer than I expected.
13b. What happened with Abraham’s faith as he awaited the fulfillment of God’s promise?
- “He grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God” (Romans 4:20 ESV)
However, I’m reminded that the Lord was not silent during the delay. God sent encouragement during the years Abraham and Sarah waited for Isaac. God gave Abraham several significant encounters, including a covenant, to reassure him that he would be the father of many nations. He also encountered three visitors who confirmed that Sarah would bear a son within a year, despite their old age. These encounters reinforced God’s promises to Abraham and Sarah.
- Genesis 12:1–3 — God first promises to make Abraham a great nation.
- Genesis 12:7 — God promises to give Abraham’s descendants the land.
- Genesis 13:14–18 — God reassures Abraham that his descendants will be numerous.
- Genesis 15:1–6 — God promises Abraham an heir, and Abraham believes Him.
- Genesis 17:1–8, 15–21 — God confirms His covenant and promises that Sarah will have a son.
- Genesis 18:1–15 — God visits Abraham and announces that Sarah will have Isaac.
- Genesis 21:1–7 — God fulfills His promise, and Sarah gives birth to Isaac.
“28 For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical. 29 But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God.” (Romans 2:28 ESV)
14. It was credited to him as righteousness.
“It was credited (or counted or accounted) to him as righteousness” means that God accepts believers as righteous because of their faith in Him, not because they are perfect or have earned it through good works.
This truth impacts me by reminding me that I can trust God’s grace, confess my sins, and live with gratitude instead of guilt. It also encourages me to follow God faithfully and extend grace to others.
15. Hopeless situations where I did not lose my faith.
The experiences that come to mind are unrelated to promises, and they were not resolved in ways that strengthened my faith. Instead, I chose to draw closer to God, anyway. As Simon Peter replied, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life.” (John 6:68 NLT)
“. . . be content. . . for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5 ESV And someday, I “will be with [Him] in Paradise.” (Luke 23:43)
My answers and research for BSF study questions BSF Romans Lesson 7 Day 5
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