Bible Readings:
Genesis 18:1-15
Exodus 3:1-10
Galatians 3:1-25
Romans 4:13-25
Sermon Outline:
Romans 4:13–25 (NKJV)
13For the promise that he would be the heir of the world was not to Abraham or to his seed through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.
14For if those who are of the law are heirs, faith is made void and the promise made of no effect,
15because the law brings about wrath; for where there is no law there is no transgression.
16Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all
17(as it is written, “I have made you a father of many nations”) in the presence of Him whom he believed—God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did;
18who, contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, “So shall your descendants be.”
19And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb.
20He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God,
21and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform.
22And therefore “it was accounted to him for righteousness.”
23Now it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him,
24but also for us. It shall be imputed to us who believe in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead,
25who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification.
I Law or promise
II The faith of Abraham
III How can we have our faith strengthened?
John Calvin
Our faith is never perfect … we are partly unbelievers.
John Calvin
Unless our faith be now and then raised up, it will lie prostrate;
unless it is warmed, it will be frozen;
unless it be roused, it will grow torpid.