Promise

Monday, June 28, 2010: Romans 4:3–4 (New King James Version)

For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt.

How was Abraham, a sinner, made perfectly right before God? He believed God’s word. This faith cleared his slate of sin.

Tuesday, June 29, 2010: Romans 4:13–14 (NKJV)

For the promise that he would 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 those who are of the law are heirs, faith is made void and the promise made of no effect

If heritage in Abraham is not by keeping the law, what is his inheritance? His true inheritance is the result of faith in God’s word: getting your slate cleaned of sin by faith in God’s promise.

Wednesday, June 30, 2010: Romans 4:16 (NKJV)

Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all

The promise was made to Abraham’s descendants. Who are Abraham’s descendants? By law they are Israel, by promise, they are all those who believe in God’s word.

Thursday, July 1, 2010: Romans 4:19–22 (NKJV)

And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb. He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. And therefore “it was accounted to him for righteousness.”

Having lived to be 100 years, what did Abraham still believe? Abraham still believed God’s promise of giving him an heir in whom the whole world would be blest.

Friday, July 2, 2010: Romans 4:23–25 (NKJV)

Now it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him, but also for us. It shall be imputed to us who believe in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification.

What is the ‘clean slate’ promise? God raised up Jesus Christ from the dead, who took the punishment for our sins. All those who believe in Him have a clean slate.