Monday, March 30- Romans 4:16-25

16Therefore, 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.
-faith is the key. Since its by faith everyone can participate in it, not just the people of Abraham. This is such good news for us and others that all can receive the gift of God.

17As 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.
-Abraham is a pretty special guy.

18Against 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."
-It's a great amount of faith that Abraham had to believe what God told him to do.

19Without 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.
-Faith in old age. Faith to believe God's promise even though he messed up once while waiting. Eventually God answers in his time.

20Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God,
-Interesting that this is how it was recorded even though he did compromise with the maidservant. But I suppose it was still faith, it was just misplaced but forgiven.

21being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.
-Strong faith

22This is why "it was credited to him as righteousness."
-Faith leads to righteousness

23The words "it was credited to him" were written not for him alone,
-hmm

24but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness—for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.
-Faith leading to righteousness is for us also. We need to work on this type of faith that believes regardless of the circumstances.

25He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.
-This is the hard thing we need to believe. Belief in this will lead to our righteousness.

-Abraham's job was to believe. We also have the same job of believing something that is kind of difficult to believe. But as Abraham has laid the example of an unrelenting belief we must do the same. Even in the impossible.