Abram and Sarai were living in Ur of the Chaldees as recorded in Genesis 11:26-32. God
instructed Abram to leave Ur and go to Canaan (the land God would show him) there God promised
him a land, nation and a seed promise (Genesis 12:1-9). God begins to work on the promises when
the son of promise is born (Genesis 17; 18:9-15; 21:1-8). The apostle Paul refers back to that time
in Romans 4. Let us consider some things about Abraham and apply them to ourselves and see
what is produced by such a faith.
"NOT WEAK IN FAITH"
Romans 4:19 says, "And without being weakened in faith..." Abraham did not have a weak faith
and neither should we. How can we have a weak faith? 1) Not believing in the promises of God.
Abraham knew the promises of God were sure, "Looking unto the promise of God, he wavered not
through unbelief..." (Romans 4:20). Abraham knew God would take care of him, do we feel this
way? Notice Isaiah 41:10, "Fear thou not, for I am with thee; be not dismayed, for I am thy God; I
will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of My
righteousness." God has promised us spiritual blessings in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 1:3). God has
promised physical provisions (Matthew 6:25-34). Do we believe His Word? 2) We can have a weak
faith by not knowing the law of God. Do you know God's law by not reading it? Some would teach
you that you can call on God's name and you will be saved. However, Romans 10:13-17 teaches
that you cannot call on the name of the Lord without any knowledge of God's word, thus there can
be no belief. 3) Not serving God properly is a sign of a weak faith. We not only serve God through
our worship (which we are to do in spirit and in truth--John 4:24), but in our daily lives (Luke 9:23).
We are in service of the King (Colossians 3:24). 4) We can have a weak faith by not trusting in God.
If we fail to realize that God is with us (Psalm 121), then our faith is weak. Did Abraham have a
weak faith? The Bible says he didn't.
"BUT WAS STRONG IN FAITH"
Romans 4:20 says, "...but waxed strong through faith, giving glory to God." Abraham had a
strong faith. How can we have a strong faith? 1) We can by being fully persuaded that God is able
to perform those things which He has promised. Paul said, "And being fully assured that what He
had promised, He was able also to perform" (Romans 4:21). When God says He will take care of
us, He means it. When God says He will give a crown of life to His children if they are faithful till
death, He means it (Revelation 2:20; Matthew 10:22). God can do these things because nothing is
impossible for Him (Luke 1:37). God is able to deliver us (Psalm 50:15). Are we fully persuaded
and is our faith strong? 2) Believing in the hope is a sign of strong faith, "Who in hope believed
against hope, to the end that he might become a father to many nations according to that which
had been spoken, So shall thy seed be" (Romans 4:18). Jehovah promised Abraham seed like the
stars and he believed God (Genesis 15:5-6). He believed in hope--he believed that he would be a
father despite Sarah's barrenness. How is our hope (Titus 2:13)? All children of God have hope, the
hope of spending eternity with our heavenly Father, our Redeemer, one day. Do we believe this
hope? Do we believe that we will have eternal life even though we live on this earth at the moment?
God has appointed us to salvation through Jesus Christ (1 Thessalonians 5:8-9). This hope is made
possible by Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:11-18). God has not lied about our hope (Titus 1:2). 3)
Walking in the steps of Jesus is a sign of strong faith. This means we must walk in the light because
God is light and there is no darkness in Him at all (1 John 1:7, 5). We must walk in the footprints
Christ left for us to walk in (Matthew 16:24; Philippians 2:5-8; 1 Peter 2:21-24; John 13:14-15). 4)
We get strong faith from the word of God (1 Timothy 4:13-16; 2 Corinthians 5:7). Abraham was
strong in faith because he fully trusted in God and His promises. We are to do the same thing if we
are to be strong in faith.
WHAT DOES FAITH PRODUCE?
Paul says faith produces being "imputed for righteousness" (Romans 4:22, 24). The word
"imputed" means "to take into account, to reckon." It carries with it the idea of credit. Just like the
bank extending credit to you when you buy a house or a car. God does the same, how can we have
good credit before God? STRONG FAITH. Righteousness is credited to us by our strong faith.
Righteousness means "the character of being right or just." Strong faith produces glory to God,
"...but waxed strong in faith, giving glory to God" (Romans 4:20). We give glory to God through lives
and songs because they reflect our faith. Strong faith produces justification (Romans 5:1).
Justified means "to be acquitted." We are justified or acquitted of sins. Christ was raised for our
justification and we are justified by faith. The same way Christ was justified physically is the way
we are justified spiritually (Romans 6:3-11)--being raised up. Strong faith brings peace with God.
We don't want to be an enemy of God, we want to have peace with Him. Christ who is our peace,
establishes a relationship of peace with God, this was accomplished when He broke down the
middle wall of partition (Ephesians 2:14).
How's your faith? Is it weak or strong? Strong faith will lead you to obey God all your life and
eternal bliss awaits those that do. Someone described faith in God this way, "I don't understand it
completely, but I believe in Him. “Abraham displayed this kind of faith and we are to do the same.