Commentary on Romans 4:13-25
From Civilizations ancient to our present Westernized Civilization, the Christian Faith has been under constant attack from philosophers of the day ranging from Atheists, Agnostics, to Secular Humanists, many of whom have made inroads into the Churches and Bible Seminaries. The Issue of The God of Heaven who exists while trouble and evil continue to persist on earth has troubled many even those among the Christian Church.
The Christian Faith and God of the Bible Mocked…
Christians in the Roman Era lived in a time were Faith in The God of Heaven was a thing to be laughed and mocked at. For one to have stood and claimed that they believed in The God of Heaven who sent His only Son Jesus Christ to come and die for our sins and then rose again on the third day, was laughable in the highly philosophical Roman – Greek Society. Yet at the same time as if to contradict their reason and intellect, the Roman – Greek “learned” society worshiped the unknown gods.
Perhaps Abraham was made fun of because of his belief in The God of Heaven. For how could he reason with his country men that The God of Heaven had told him to leave the land of his fathers to an unknown destination?
Some so-called Christian Bible Teachers Mock God…
Yet we live in the same times in which not only the secular world makes fun and mockery at The God of the Bible but many so-called Christian ministers and teachers mock God and make fun and ridicule of the Teachings of Jesus Christ and the Bible. Hollywood and Academia are always on Constant attack on the Christian Faith…with Hollywood coming out with new movies mocking the existence of God of the Bible.
Interesting is that it is rare that Western Academia and Hollywood attack any other religious gods but concentration of attack and antagonism is made against The God of Bible. It is in such environments today that our faith is being tested and shall we continue to believe and have faith in Jesus Christ?
The Bible states clearly that our faith which is more valuable than gold is tested to the glory of Jesus Christ.
1 Peter 1:6-7When the Son of Man returns shall He find Faith on Earth? It is important to not that the Faith I am speaking about here is not the ‘Name it Claim it’ faith but I am speaking about our Faith in Jesus Christ, Our Belief in His Teachings and Doctrine, Repentance, The Forgiveness of Sins, Jesus Christ The Son of God, The Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, The Resurrection of the Dead, etc, Our Belief and Faith in the Teachings of The Bible – our Christian Faith…
(6) Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:
(7) That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold thatperisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
Luke 18:8Yet still our faith which is much more precious than gold, is tested through the fires of persecution. Abraham had to endure and persevere through his own tribulations and likewise as Christians in this day and age, our Faith in Christ Jesus will be tested through trials, tribulations, and persecutions to the point that some will be forced to recant and renounce their Faith in Jesus Christ.
(8) I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?
However, like the saints of old, we must endure and persevere against all odds, trials and tribulations to the very end and never deny our Faith in Jesus Christ – never deny Jesus Christ but continue making the good confession of faith in Christ Jesus before all even to the point of death.
2 Timothy 4:7-8Some Types of Tests of Our Faith in Christ Jesus…
(7) I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
(8) Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
So, basically, we have the Philosophical Test of our Faith in Christ. This is were all the ideological attacks on the New Testament Christian Faith take place, Academia is heavily involved in this phase of attack… Countless books have been written to punch holes in the Christian Faith and make mockery of God out of so-called reason and rational…secular humanists are some of the most notorious emissaries of such attacks.
Yet still we have the Social Tests, in which Media such as Hollywood is employed to come up with imagery to attack the New Testament Christian Faith and create as much social mockery of the Bible, that it has become now a “cool” thing to make fun of and ridicule Christians and the Bible, it is common to use The Name of Jesus Christ and God as a curse word. The aim is to make Christians feel ‘small’ and insignificant, old fashioned, not “cool”, and out of touch. Yet surprisingly some undiscerning Pastors buy into such lies and water down the Gospel of Jesus Christ to accommodate Hollywood with a “Seeker Friendly” Gospel.
Yet even more disturbing, worrisome and dangerous of all tests is the Pseudo Christian Gospel Tests in which False Teachers and Preachers find their way inside the Church and begin to teach a False Gospel, a Gospel totally contradicting The Doctrines of Jesus Christ but though with little truth added to it so as to sell it to the undiscerning masses of Christians inside the Church. Many False Bible Teachers in Seminaries and Bible Colleges who do not believe in Jesus Christ and His Teachings are busy sowing seeds of lies and watering down the Truth and New Testament Christian Faith.
The Last test of course is the Physical Test of the Christian Faith in which persecutions arise and bodily harm is brought on those who have Faith in Jesus Christ that perhaps they would deny and denounce their Faith in Jesus Christ… This is the last stage and the Church of Jesus Christ is fast approaching this stage globally…for Jesus Christ clearly stated that you will be hated of all Nations for my Name Sake…
Matthew 24:9The Trial of Faith is both from within and without…
(9) Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake.
In this age of ‘Increasing Knowledge’, one of the challenges that Christians face is the ‘test’ and ‘trial’ of the New Testament Christian Faith by agnostics, secular humanist, and believers in reason void of spirituality. From those who question the very existence of God to those who doubt that Jesus Christ rose from the Dead, Christians are being bombarded not only by secular agnostics but also many who claim to be Bible Teachers in Ivy League Seminaries and Bible Colleges yet not believing in the Bible.
Those who are supposed to uphold Bible Doctrines are making fun and mockery of them. Liberalism in Churches is increasing with many in Academia attacking any Conservative Christian Values in the Bible like the sanctity of marriage between a Man and a Woman, The Sanctity of Life, and other biblical Moral issues.
While Biblical Morals have been politicized by some, nevertheless, the attack and mockery of those who uphold to biblical morality is only increasing. There are many who preach and teach on pulpits today in many Christian Churches yet they do not believe that Jesus Christ rose from the dead. They do not believe that Jesus Christ is coming back a second time to judge the whole world.
On the other hand we have those who have turned Faith in Christ Jesus into a source of greed and means of gain…Jesus Christ is seen as a means to get rich, wealthy, and increase in material and earthly goods. The New Testament Christian Faith is being attacked on all fronts from both within the church and outside the church. However, the question to us today is that shall we continue in the Faith?
Are we going to continue believing in God and His Son Jesus Christ despite the forces of doubt coming against us? Are we going to continue believing that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and He died and rose again from the dead? Just like Abraham, our Faith in God will be tested and we must endure and persevere in our Faith and Trust in The Lord.
Romans 4:13-25Is the Abrahamic Faith about speaking things into Existence?
(13) For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.
(14) For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect:
(15) Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.
(16) Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,
(17) (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.
(18) Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.
(19) And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about a hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb:
(20) He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;
(21) And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.
(22) And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.
(23) Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him;
(24) But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;
(25) Who was delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification.
One of the most misquoted bible verse by the Prosperity Word-Faith Movement preachers is Romans 4:17. The prosperity word-faith preachers claim that they can ‘create’ anything by “faith” simply by ‘calling those things that are not as though they are – speaking things into existence’. The idea is that by simply speaking words by faith, preachers and believers can create health, wealth, prosperity, riches, and healings.
Romans 4:17However, the verse is taken out of context and further more, Christians in such prosperity word-faith environments are deceived that they can be “small gods” and “speak” and “create” any thing they wish by faith. Such teachings from the prosperity word-faith camp are an illusion and a lie otherwise all problems in this world that Christians face would evaporate and disappear.
(17) (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.
The context of the verse is simply about Abraham who had faith and belief in God of Heaven who created the earth by speaking into existence things out of nothing. However, some prosperity word-faith preachers borderline blasphemy by thinking they too have the powers to create. One of the most notorious preacher and teacher of such the ‘Speak Things into Existence’ blasphemous doctrine is Kenneth Copeland. However, his believers and followers have never been able to speak into existence their own “Gulf Stream Jets”…it seems that the ‘Speak Things into Existence’ Teachings only benefit Kenneth Copeland.
Yet still even more disturbing is that Christians are deceived by such teachers that believers are “small gods”…with powers to create and destroy. This is the very deception that the Devil used to deceive Eve in the Garden by suggesting to her that if she ate of the forbidden fruit she would be like God…
Brethren, lets not be deceived, we Christians are not God and neither are we “small gods” or “little messiahs”. Our faith is not in ourselves and our abilities to metaphysically project whatever we wish into this world. Our faith is in God of Heaven who created this World out of nothing…
Further more, Abraham believed and had faith in The God of Heaven that He the God of Heaven who spoke the earth into existence from nothing was able to help Abraham in fulfilling the promise made. In simple terms, it was like Abraham was saying…”hey, The God who created this world by speaking creation into existence from nothing is able to help me”…
We must remember that Abraham’s faith was being tested, God had promised a Son to him who would be heir of all the riches and wealth he had…yet Abraham was growing old and about 100 years old. It was laughable that at such an age one would have children, yet despite all the negativity around him to doubt The God of Heaven, Abraham still believed and had faith in The God of Heaven.
Romans 4:18Abraham did not have faith in his faith but faith in God…
(18) Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.
Abraham did not have any faith at all in himself or his own abilities, neither did Abraham “speak things into existence”… Abraham simply continued to trust in The Lord and continued to believe and have faith in The God who created Heaven and Earth.
This is why Paul the apostle in Romans 4:18-19 talks about Abraham who hoped against hope and did not consider his own body or the body of his wife Sarah, both who were of very old age…they did not have faith in own bodies or abilities, they never considered it a possibility that their bodies and abilities would be of any help, rather they had their faith and trust in The God of Heaven and not their own metaphysical strength of simply “speaking things into existence”…
Romans 4:19At 100 years of age, Abraham had no natural or metaphysical capabilities he depended on to bring to pass the promise made to him by God. Abraham simply persevered and trusted in the God of Creation. The context here is that Abraham’s faith was being tested…Abraham’s belief in The Lord was being put on trial…
(19) And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about a hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb:
Hebrews 11:8-12The question was that would Abraham continue believing that The God of Heaven? The challenge was that would Abraham persevere and continue believing in God of Heaven even if he did not see the promise come to pass?
(8) By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.
(9) By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:
(10) For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
(11) Through faith also Sarah herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.
(12) Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.
Romans 4:20-21For the scriptures are very clear that Abraham staggered not at the promise, he sunk not into disbelief at the promise that The Lord had made to him, despite his age and circumstance, he continued have Faith in God and that is why it was imputed to him for righteousness.
(20) He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;
(21) And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.
Romans 4:22There is no mention anywhere in scriptures Abraham engaging in positive thinking and speaking things into existence… There is no mention in the Bible that Abraham spoke Isaac into existence… Abraham did not call himself a “small god” and a “little messiah”, Abraham simply placed his trust, believed and had faith in The God of Heaven and Earth – the Creator of Heaven and Earth – who spoke creation into existence out of nothing…
(22) And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.
So, brethren, lets not be deceived that we are “small gods” with powers to “speak things into existence”…lets not be deceived by false teachers that we can have faith in our faith…rather let us have faith and trust in The Lord God regardless of if we receive the promises or not. The big lesson from Abraham’s example however, is that he was counted as righteous before The Lord not because of works but simply because he believed and had faith in The Lord.
Justification by Faith in Jesus Christ, not human abilities…
If Abraham was able to “speak things into existence” then his righteousness and justification would be out of works and his own personal abilities. However, it was not so, Abraham never relied on his abilities to save him and grant him the promise but he totally depended on The Lord God of Heaven to bring the promise to pass.
This is what we are called to – a place of humility in faith were it is not dependent on our abilities to receive forgiveness and justification before The Lord but on our Faith and Trust in what The Lord Jesus Christ has done for us at Calvary.
Romans 4:23-25We do not “speak our forgiveness into existence” but rather we Trust and depend totally on the work of Christ Jesus at The Cross where He shed His Blood for us and Redeemed us from the Curse of The Law… We cannot forgive our selves or buy our own forgiveness, we cannot simply speak our forgiveness into existence but we approach the throne of Grace and Mercy to receive grace and mercy in time of need.
(23) Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him;
(24) But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;
(25) Who was delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification.
When the Son of Man returns, shall He find Faith on the Earth? Brethren, our Faith in Christ is what is being tested, being more precious than gold, all for the Glory of Jesus Christ. Our Justification is not a works of man or based on the wisdom of men but in our Faith in Jesus Christ. It is that Faith in Jesus Christ, Faith in His Existence, Faith in His Teachings and Doctrine, Faith in His Death and Resurrection, Faith in His Second Coming that Satan constantly attacks…
Hebrews 11:13-16Yet even the saints of old had their faith in God tested even to the point of death without receiving the promises but they looked to a better place, a city whose maker is not Man but God.
(13) These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
(14) For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.
(15) And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.
(16) But now they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.
Keep the Good Fight of Faith…
In Christ Jesus
Kato Mivule
