ROMANS 4:13-17 THE PROMISE
A wonderful blessing has been brought to us that came first as a promise to Abraham. "In thy seed shall all nations of the earth be blessed." This is not because of the wonderful works Abraham did in the past, nor was it because he was a faithful law-keeper. He is called the "father of the faithful" because he believed God and acted accordingly. There was no effort on his part to earn the blessing of God's promises. His righteousness was the righteousness of faith. All of his life was lived before the law was given to Moses.
By repeating this whole teaching of righteousness by faith, the Spirit of God serves to emphasize the truth that this imparted righteousness is according to grace so it may be known by all. The faith that saves us has been, and still is, being exercised by all those who have trusted in Him who is "The Heir of all the world." Abraham was implied figuratively as the one who would bring blessing because of his faith. The Lord Jesus Christ, the Seed of Promise, will personally and actually bring blessing to the whole world. Those who will come into the good of this are those people of faith who put their trust in the Lord Jesus Christ alone apart from the works of the law. Faith in Christ is not mixed with works or merits of man. Abraham believed this promise that included us all.
Abraham was the father of the household of faith. Those who bring the Gospel to win souls to the Savior are called "fathers" also because people were "begat through the Gospel." God is the actual Father who brought life to us by the Holy Spirit through His Word. God makes us alive from the dead and gives us being. He makes life where there was no life. For God to bring something or someone into being, is a work of His own doing apart from anything we have done or might yet do.
There is a wonderful work going on unseen, And it's going on all over the world. People are coming by God's grace to Him, In spite of the turmoil that around us swirls. By faith in the living Word of God that leads Them to put their personal faith in Christ, Many are pressing into God's family when they heed His Word and through them God is shedding His light.
One by one they are coming personally to believe In the Lord Jesus who paid the ransom for sin. Like Abraham of old, they are willing to receive The fact that in love He gave Himself for them. Apart from the works of righteousness done Or any efforts to make themselves more right; They rejoice that the punishment for their sin is gone, And even in this dark world the light of life shines bright.
We are not the first and are not the last Who will put our trust entirely in Him. Abraham did that away back in the past, And there have been many people of faith since then. They know their weakness and inability To earn their own personal salvation. Willingly they acknowledge their unsuitability Without faith alone to experience justification.
God gave His promise to Abraham in the past That all nations through his seed would be blessed. In real life experiences the testimony would last, His faith in many ways God would test. So we too, live by faith and we too trust That what God has promised, He is going to do. In all nations of earth where God's people are thrust, They are confident He will bring them safely through.
"Father God, I know I have missed some of these private times because of traveling across the country. I am certainly glad to have them back even for this short time between traveling days. May these meditations be acceptable to Thee I pray, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen."