“Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring—not only to those who are of the law but also to those who have the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all.”
Romans 4:16 (NIV)
Paul is clarifying that God’s promise to Abraham and his descendants is not delivered by our adherence to the law. The delivery method of the promise to Abraham is faith. If God’s promises came through obedience to the law, then faith is completely unnecessary, and the promise is pointless. The law reveals our sin. It does not rid us of sin.
For Abraham to become the father of many nations, he had to have faith in God’s promise, not in rules and regulations and restrictions. Whether we’re Jew or Gentile, faith is what makes us children of Abraham and recipients of God’s promises. We can only be counted as righteous in God’s sight because of faith. We receive this promise through God’s power, as a free gift.
In 1 Corinthians 15, verses 55 to 57, Paul teaches us that Jesus has given the believer victory over sin and death. Sin brings about death, and the law establishes this power of sin over us. Yet we have victory over both through Jesus Christ. So we’re not only children of faith, children of Abraham, and recipients of a promise from God. We are victorious in Christ.
Today, will we receive Christ’s victory through faith? Will we accept God’s grace, His salvation, and His righteousness as a free gift to us? Or will we reject it by trying to earn our way to Him, strive our way to Him, and make ourselves right in His sight? We’ll never get there. We can’t make it. The righteousness of God is of faith by grace. Receive it today and allow Abraham to be your spiritual father, in Christ.