¹⁸ Even when there was no reason for hope, Abraham kept hoping—believing that he would become the father of many nations. For God had said to him, “That’s how many descendants you will have!” ¹⁹ And Abraham’s faith did not weaken, even though, at about 100 years of age, he figured his body was as good as dead—and so was Sarah’s womb.

²⁰ Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God. ²¹ He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises. ²² And because of Abraham’s faith, God counted him as righteous. ²³ And when God counted him as righteous, it wasn’t just for Abraham’s benefit. It was recorded ²⁴ for our benefit, too, assuring us that God will also count us as righteous if we believe in him, the one who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. ²⁵ He was handed over to die because of our sins, and he was raised to life to make us right with God.

God’s Promises

I’m pretty sure that most of us would not be thrilled if God promised us the same thing he promised Abraham. For those who don’t know the story, you can read it in Genesis 18. God promises that Abraham and his wife Sarah will have a son. Not only that, but their descendants will be as numerous as the stars. So far, most of us wouldn’t have a problem with such a promise. However, at the time God made this promise, both Abraham and Sarah were in their 90′s! Again, I don’t think too many of us would be thrilled with that promise.

But Abraham believed by faith. His faith continued to grow until he saw the promise of God fulfilled. I love who Paul describes Abraham’s faith: He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises.

Do you have that kind of faith. Some days I do. Some days, not so much. However, I want to have that kind of faith all the time.

The fact is, God’s promises are true. When he promises something, we can count on it. It will happen just as he said it would.

And what’s the promise that Paul is telling us we can have complete hope is true? That Christ paid the price for our sin. We are free. We are accepted by God. He does see us as righteous. It’s true. Stop striving. Stop trying to earn God’s acceptance. It’s done. It’s a promise we can have confidence in.

My prayer: God, you know how I waiver. I doubt. I fear when I should trust. As the Apostle Thomas asked, “I believe. Help me with my unbelief.” That is my prayer today. I do believe that your promises are true and trustworthy. Yet, help me when I doubt. Help me when I second guess. Strengthen my faith. Amen.

Until tomorrow.

¹³ Clearly, God’s promise to give the whole earth to Abraham and his descendants was based not on his obedience to God’s law, but on a right relationship with God that comes by faith. ¹⁴ If God’s promise is only for those who obey the law, then faith is not necessary and the promise is pointless. ¹⁵ For the law always brings punishment on those who try to obey it. (The only way to avoid breaking the law is to have no law to break!)

¹⁶ So the promise is received by faith. It is given as a free gift. And we are all certain to receive it, whether or not we live according to the law of Moses, if we have faith like Abraham’s. For Abraham is the father of all who believe. ¹⁷ That is what the Scriptures mean when God told him, “I have made you the father of many nations.” This happened because Abraham believed in the God who brings the dead back to life and who creates new things out of nothing.

Two Choices. Now Decide.

It really does boil down to two options. Either we emphasize the Law, and demand that people follow it to the letter in order to experience forgiveness from sin. Or, we accept the gift of grace and recognize that it isn’t in what we do or don’t do, but in what Christ has already done.

It can’t be both. Not for you nor for those you want to point a finger at. It’s one option for everyone.

Again, the choice we make will determine how we view all that we do as Christ followers. It doesn’t change that God calls us to a certain standard. Sin is very much a reality in today’s age. What changes is the attitude with which we face God’s standard. Do we face it with the pressure of having to obey God or face his wrath? Or do we face it with the desire to please a God who has done so much for us.

That attitude is determined by how you view forgiveness. Is it based on what we do in obeying the Law or is it based on what unmerited grace. You decide.

My prayer: I chose to base forgiveness on unmerited grace. By faith I once again receive all that you have done on my behalf. I choose to live my life according to your plan because I recognize that what you have in store for me is more wonderful than anything I could imagine on my own. Take my life and let me live freely for you this day. Amen.

Until tomorrow.

⁹ Now, is this blessing only for the Jews, or is it also for uncircumcised Gentiles? Well, we have been saying that Abraham was counted as righteous by God because of his faith. ¹⁰ But how did this happen? Was he counted as righteous only after he was circumcised, or was it before he was circumcised? Clearly, God accepted Abraham before he was circumcised!

¹¹ Circumcision was a sign that Abraham already had faith and that God had already accepted him and declared him to be righteous—even before he was circumcised. So Abraham is the spiritual father of those who have faith but have not been circumcised. They are counted as righteous because of their faith. ¹² And Abraham is also the spiritual father of those who have been circumcised, but only if they have the same kind of faith Abraham had before he was circumcised.

A Sign of Faith

If only we could learn from the past. If only we’d stop having the same disagreements and battles within the Church. If only we’d stop pointing fingers. I’ve said it before in this devotional, and I’ll probably say it many more times, but those who are quick to judge others clearly do not have a good grasp of grace in their own life. If you saw your massive debt paid off by a stranger (to use yesterday’s example), you would not look at someone else’s debt and tell them how foolish they are. Instead, you would look at them with empathy and then tell them about the one who pays off people’s debt.

In the New Testament, Jesus encouraged us to be baptized in water. Baptism wasn’t done in order to be saved. Rather, it was a symbol of the change that had already happened. It is an outward, visible sign of a transformed heart. Paul suggests that circumcision was no different for Abraham. It was a sign of the faith he had inward.

As soon as you make the outward act – whether it is circumcision, water baptism, or something else – a requirement for salvation, then grace is no longer unmerited. You have to do something to earn it. Paul is making it clear to the Jews in Rome that they cannot require the Gentiles to be circumcised in order to be part of the Church. To do so would negate the power of grace for all of them. It must be avoided.

I have no problem with encouraging people to respond outwardly as a sign of what has happened inwardly. (Of course, I’m grateful that I’m part of the era of water baptism rather than circumcision!) However, when we do a water baptism service, we make it clear, baptism isn’t saving anyone. It’s declaring what has already happened.

My prayer: Lord, help me. It seems so easy to fall back into the trap of pointing fingers. It seems to run in my nature to want to earn my salvation. And yet, I know I can’t earn it. Help me see when I’m shifting my focus from gratitude to trying to earn your love. I need to be reminded often of the grace that is mine simply by receiving it. Amen.

Until tomorrow.