“He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. And therefore “it was accounted to him for righteousness.”” (Rom.4:20-22). The “He” in the first part of our text is Abraham. Abraham is presented by Paul as an example of how God makes a person right with Him by faith. It is Abraham’s unwavering faith that Paul displays in the above text. Let’s consider Abraham’s faith. First, it was reliance upon something that God “had promised.” What God had promised is quoted by Paul in a passage that precedes our text – “I have made you a father of many nation” (Rom.4:17; Gen.17:5). At the time God made that statement Abraham was fatherless. Therefore Paul described God as the One who “calls those things which do not exist as though they did;” (Rom.4:17). Second, Abraham’s response to God’s promise is presented both negatively and positively. Negatively, Abraham “did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief.” The word “waver” translates a Greek word that conveys the idea of setting yourself opposite to something as if to oppose it. Abraham did not oppose God’s promise. Positively, Abraham was “fully convinced.” These two words mean he was completely assured that God’s promise would be entirely accomplished. Third, observe where Abraham placed his confidence. It was in God’s performance, not his – “that what He [God] had promised He [God] was also able to perform.” Abraham’s faith was not in how well he performed, but how well God performed. This is the big difference between those “of faith” and those “of law.” Those “of law” depend on their own ability to do law in order to be right with God, while those “of faith” rely upon the performance of Another – Jesus Christ. And fourth, because Abraham put and kept his confidence in Another [God], “it was accounted to him for righteousness.” This is Paul’s quote of Genesis chapter fifteen verse six. The word “accounted” translates a Greek word that means, “a thing is reckoned as or to be something, i.e. as availing for or equivalent to something, as having the like force and weight.” Abraham’s faith in Another [God] was used in the place of his own righteousness, which was deficient. As with Abraham, Paul says, “...It shall be imputed to us who believe in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord...” (Rom.4:24).

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