13 It was not through law that Abraham and his 13 For the promise to Abraham and his offspring
s offspring that
offspring received the promise that he would be heir
of the world, but through the righteousness that
comes by faith. 14 For if those who live by law are
heirs, faith has no value and the promise is worthless,
15 because law brings wrath. And where there is no
law there is no transgression.
16 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 are of the faith of
Abraham. He is the father of us all.
17 As it is written: “I have made you a father of
many nations.” He is our father in the sight of God,
in whom he believed–the God who gives life to the
dead and calls things that are not as though they
were. 18 Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed
and so became the father of many nations, just as it
had been said to him, “So shall your offspring be.”
19 Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact
that his body was as good as dead--since he was
about a hundred years old--and that Sarah's womb
was also dead. 20 Yet he did not waver through
unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was
strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, 21
being fully persuaded that God had power to do what
he had promised. 22 This is why “it was credited to
him as righteousness.”
23 The words “it was credited to him” were written
not for him alone, 24 but also for us, to whom God
will credit righteousness--for us who believe in him
who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. 25 He was
delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to
life for our justification.
he would be heir of the world did not come through
the law but through the righteousness of faith. 14 For
if it is the adherents of the law who are to be the
heirs, faith is null and the promise is void. 15 For the
law brings wrath, but where there is no law there is
no transgression.
16 That is why it depends on faith, in order that the
promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all
his offspring–not only to the adherent of the law but
also to the one who shares the faith of Abraham, who
is the father of us all,
17 as it is written, “I have made you the father of
many nations”–in the presence of the God in whom
he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into
existence the things that do not exist. 18 In hope he
believed against hope, that he should become the
father of many nations, as he had been told, “So shall
your offspring be.” 19 He did not weaken in faith
when he considered his own body, which was as
good as dead (since he was about a hundred years
old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah's
womb. 20 No distrust made him waver concerning
the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as
he gave glory to God, 21 fully convinced that God
was able to do what he had promised. 22 That is why
his faith was “counted to him as righteousness.”
23 But the words “it was counted to him” were not
written for his sake alone, 24 but for ours also. It will
be counted to us who believe in him who raised from
the dead Jesus our Lord, 25 who was delivered up for
our trespasses and raised for our justification.
I. We have a promise/future, and it comes by Faith, not Law 13–15
A. Abraham received a promise
1. Abraham was promised future land
2. Abraham was promised a future heir
3. Abraham was promised to be the father of many nations in the future and in the present:
“I have made you” vs 17
4. Abraham was promised that his descendants would be as the stars of heaven in the
future
B. We too, have received that same promise: but note the tense changes–present AND future
1. “The meek shall inherit the earth”
2. 1 Corinthians 3:21b–23
“All things are yours, 22 whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or
death or the present or the future–all are yours, 23 and you are of Christ, and Christ is
of God”
C. We are “caught up” in that promise
1. We are the fulfilment of Abraham’s promised future
2. We are Abraham’s offspring by faith

D. How this promise comes to us:

1. It comes “through the righteousness that comes by Faith” or “through the righteousness
of faith”
2. Contrast this with the law
a. The law brings wrath
b. The law brings consciousness of sin.

II. The Promise Comes by Faith, Rests Upon Grace 16

A. The promise “depends on faith” (comes by faith)
B. So that it may be of Grace, not by Law
C. This makes Abraham the father of all who believe, the father of us all
1. Those born of his seed
2. Those born of faith

III. So what is Faith? Abraham’s Faith 17–22

A. It is faith in something God has done:
17 As it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.”

B. It is faith in something Real and tangible:

“Many Nations” & He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed

C. It is faith in God’s future:

–the God who gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they were.

D. It is a faith against all present appearances:

18 Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations,

1. It is a faith that creates offspring:

just as it had been said to him, “So shall your offspring be.”

2. 19 Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead–
since he was about a hundred years old–and that Sarah's womb was also dead.

3. 20 Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was
strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God,

4. 21 being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. 22 This is why
“it was credited to him as righteousness.”

E. In all these, it is a faith is that which commits, depends upon, and acts upon its object
IV. So What’s Our Faith? 23–25
23 The words “it was credited to him” were written not for him alone, 24 but also for us, to whom
God will credit righteousness--for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the
dead. 25 He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.

A. If Abraham is the father of those who believe, we are only his offspring if we believe!
B. What we believe
1. In Him (God)
2. Jesus our Lord
a. Jesus our Lord Raised from the dead
b. Delivered to death
c. Raised to life for our justification
C. Without this kind of faith, we must ask if we are Christians.
1. Abraham is not “the father of all” but “the father of all who believe”
2. What do we believe? We believe that Jesus is Lord, delivered up by God for our sins,
and raised for our justification.