Against All Hope
F - FULL
A - ASSURANCE
I - IN
T – TRUSTING
H - HIM
The title of my passage today is taken directly from Romans 4 v 18 and is written in regard to Abraham and his BELIEF, his HOPE, his FAITH, that the promise made to him by God – that he would be the “father of many nations” - would come true, despite his body being “as good as dead” – words also taken directly from Romans 4 v 19.
Faith is not something to be taken lightly… I am grateful when I wake up alive each morning to enjoy another day of earthly living, but I do not go to sleep in faith that I will wake up the next day…. It is really quite an assured expectation and certainly not “Against All Hope”. But the fact that one day I will not wake up in the morning in my bed, and instead wake up in heaven, is definitely a matter of faith:
F - FULL
A - ASSURANCE
I - IN
T – TRUSTING
H - HIM
Against all Hope, is the fact that a sinful man, like me, can enter into a sinless heaven and into the presence of a Holy God as it says in Romans 4 v 25 – which is actually the full Gospel in one sentence:
25 He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification
The hopeless situation of sinful man is turned around into a situation full of HOPE because of the death and resurrection of Jesus on that cross of Calvary with a google definition of Justification being:
“the act by which God moves a willing person from the state of sin (injustice) to the state of grace (justice)”
Which I think is spot on and the foundation of our hope!
Let us read the final verses of Romans 4, although I would encourage you to read the whole passage when you have time. It is a bit theological, and when I first read the verses, I wondered why God had given me this passage and not the Bible scholars amongst our speakers such as Monica or Gerry? But as I read, I saw a number of key messages that the Holy Spirit was drawing out and the issues surrounding circumcision, etc could come at another time….I breathed a sigh of relief!
So, let us read the end of the chapter in full and then pick up on a few points from the whole of the passage:
Romans 4 v 18 – 25
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.”[d] 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.
Let us pick up on three learning points from this passage and chapter:
The “Trick”
Hope in a hopeless situation is not easy and thus it follows on that having faith also, is not always easy. So how did Abraham face this situation? The answer, the “trick” if you like, is in v 20 and 21.
Romans 4 v 20 – 21
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.
When we are in a hopeless situation, we often look at it from our human restraints, Abraham and Sarah were too old to have kids – that was obvious as their bodies were as “good as dead” – I like that very frank saying and thought I would slip it in again! Martha warned Jesus not to go into the tomb of Lazarus due to the time he had been dead and the body would be starting to rot and smell – it was clear that Lazarus was very dead!
But this is looking at situations with our human eyes. With God in our lives, we need to close our human eyes and instead need to think as Abraham thought – “being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised”
Or as Jesus said just before he called Lazarus out of the grave, in John 11 v 41 – 42:
Then Jesus looked up to heaven and said, “Father, thank you for hearing me. 42 You always hear me, but I said it out loud for the sake of all these people standing here, so that they will believe you sent me.”
Perhaps “TRICK” is the wrong word, but we need to bring the hopeless to the accomplished, through the Power of God!
Heavenly Credits
Roman 4 v 1 – 3
What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, discovered in this matter? 2 If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about—but not before God. 3 What does Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.
Our Christian life is established on our belief in God and the saving power of Jesus. This is all that is needed for us to gain salvation and benefit from the Grace of God through Christ. But of course, this situation should then be able to be seen in our lives, as our faith is lived out in works which point towards Jesus – this is clearly argued in the book of James. Perhaps in 2021 such reasoning is less radical in a time where “how you feel, and make others feel”, is of increasing importance. In the times of Abraham and Jesus, much of religion was about doing rather than believing – you go to the temple, you give your sacrifice, you pray at certain times of day, you wear certain clothes or whatever – if you get all the ticks, then heaven awaits. Of course, this is dodgy ground, because we cannot tell if we have enough “ticks” to get through, but we do not have to worry – like Abraham we simply have to:
Romans 4 v 3: “Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness”
The C Word
I guess for all men the mention of circumcision – the “C” word - makes us cringe a little and the fact that it is still being carried out on some women in Uganda is a terrible fact and actually illegal under the FGM Act 2010. Enough said, but for us I want to briefly pick up on the timing argument mentioned in Romans 4
Romans 4 v 10 to 11
10 Under what circumstances was it credited? Was it after he was circumcised, or before? It was not after, but before! 11 And he received circumcision as a sign, a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. So then, he is the father of all who believe but have not been circumcised, in order that righteousness might be credited to them
The argument here is about whether the blessing came upon Abraham before or after he was circumcised, and it clearly states that it was before. Half of us are never planning to get circumcised - the ladies reading/listening – I guess many of us men will also not be considering the option, and even if we are it is not linked to any religious thinking. But this is not important, what is important is that it was Abrahams heart, attitude, and belief in God that were credited to him as righteousness and not anything he might have done to his body.
I think I have mentioned this hymn verse before in a message, but I think it is incredibly powerful and often missed as we celebrate Christmas with the well-known carols:
In the bleak midwinter
Frosty wind made moan – very unbiblical!
But it continues…….
What can I give him?
Poor as I am
If I were a shepherd
I would give a lamb
If I were a wise man
I would do my part
But what I can I give him
Give him my heart…………… - totally Biblical and AMEN!
Romans 4 v 18 - Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed
PRAYER
Questions to ponder
At times it is harder to believe things than do things – how can we reset the balance and increase our belief?
Have you been in that “hopeless place” – what is your testimony of how you came out of it and into a position of hope?
Note 1 – If you have such a testimony and are willing to share to help other in such a situation, please contact Beth and it could be published in the KIC L newsletter.
Note 2 – If you are in that hopeless situation now – please do not go through it alone, but share it with trusted Christian friends or contact any of the KIC-L leadership team
