Day 17 - Romans 4:16 - 4:25

16 So the promise is received by faith. It is given as a free gift. And we are all certain to receive it, whether or not we live according to the law of Moses, if we have faith like Abraham’s. For Abraham is the father of all who believe. 17 That is what the Scriptures mean when God told him, “I have made you the father of many nations.” This happened because Abraham believed in the God who brings the dead back to life and who creates new things out of nothing.

18 Even when there was no reason for hope, Abraham kept hoping—believing that he would become the father of many nations. For God had said to him, “That’s how many descendants you will have!” 19 And Abraham’s faith did not weaken, even though, at about 100 years of age, he figured his body was as good as dead—and so was Sarah’s womb.

20 Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God. 21 He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises. 22 And because of Abraham’s faith, God counted him as righteous. 23 And when God counted him as righteous, it wasn’t just for Abraham’s benefit. It was recorded 24 for our benefit, too, assuring us that God will also count us as righteous if we believe in him, the one who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. 25 He was handed over to die because of our sins, and he was raised to life to make us right with God.

Tori's Comments:

"even when there was no reason for hope"

But I guess that kind of the definition of hope. It's holding out. It's being "fully convinced".

Terrie's Comments:

No matter what the situation looks like in the natural, our hope comes from the promises that God has made to us in his word.  Faith is believing that God will do what he says he will even when everyone on earth says that it is impossible and even when ALL odds are stacked against you.  We serve a mighty God who doesn't know the meaning of the word impossible.  Abraham's faith wasn't in his own body or in Sarah's womb but in God alone.  He trusted that even though it was humanly impossible that God would make a way because God said he would.  That is faith!!

God is erasing  every obstacle that stands in the way of His promises to you... even if you can't see the way yet.

Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!

Day 16 - Romans 4:13 - 4:15

13 Clearly, God’s promise to give the whole earth to Abraham and his descendants was based not on his obedience to God’s law, but on a right relationship with God that comes by faith. 14 If God’s promise is only for those who obey the law, then faith is not necessary and the promise is pointless. 15 For the law always brings punishment on those who try to obey it. (The only way to avoid breaking the law is to have no law to break!)

Terrie's Comments:

I think it is becoming very clear why Jesus came to bring a new covenant and to make the old law null and void.  Even more clear than it was in Hebrews... if that is possible (and apparently it is).  I am glad that we are required to live by faith not by the letter of the law or we would all be sunk!

Tori's Comments:

Wow, that was really short. It also pretty much sums up everything I've read these past few days.

Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!

Day 15 - Romans 4:9 - 4:12

9 Now, is this blessing only for the Jews, or is it also for uncircumcised Gentiles? Well, we have been saying that Abraham was counted as righteous by God because of his faith. 10 But how did this happen? Was he counted as righteous only after he was circumcised, or was it before he was circumcised? Clearly, God accepted Abraham before he was circumcised!

11 Circumcision was a sign that Abraham already had faith and that God had already accepted him and declared him to be righteous—even before he was circumcised. So Abraham is the spiritual father of those who have faith but have not been circumcised. They are counted as righteous because of their faith. 12 And Abraham is also the spiritual father of those who have been circumcised, but only if they have the same kind of faith Abraham had before he was circumcised.

Tori's Comments:

Well, I am at a loss for words. I do not know what else to say. I could put the minion GIF in again because it was (ahem, is) really amusing...

via GIPHY

But of course, that's not really beneficial so I'm not going to do that.

However, what strikes me is the phrase "same kind of faith". That would be the same kind of faith that had Abraham about to sacrifice his son, to pick up everything and leave all he knew, to trust God no matter how hard life gets, and when we mess up, to pick ourselves right back up.

Whew. Maybe I'm not at a loss for words. Any thoughts? Please share. :)

Terrie's Comments:

So even those who were living under the law were saved by faith alone.  Circumcised or uncircumcised, Jew or Gentile, Old Covenant or New Covenant ... it doesn't matter we are all saved by faith alone.  Faith in Jesus Christ and all that he accomplished and faith in our God who created all that we see around us.  It is acknowledging that we are nothing without Him and only He can save us.

Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!

Day 14 - Romans 4:1 - 4:8

Abraham was, humanly speaking, the founder of our Jewish nation. What did he discover about being made right with God? 2 If his good deeds had made him acceptable to God, he would have had something to boast about. But that was not God’s way. 3 For the Scriptures tell us, “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.”

4 When people work, their wages are not a gift, but something they have earned. 5 But people are counted as righteous, not because of their work, but because of their faith in God who forgives sinners. 6 David also spoke of this when he described the happiness of those who are declared righteous without working for it:

7 “Oh, what joy for those    whose disobedience is forgiven,    whose sins are put out of sight.8 Yes, what joy for those    whose record the Lord has cleared of sin.”

Terrie's Comments:

I need to get it in my head that I can't do anything at all to earn God's blessing. I am accepted and reconciled to God by faith in Jesus Christ alone...today was a great reminder of this.

Tori's Comments:

Vs. 4-5 is definitely something to remember when speaking to unbelievers.

Actually, it's something to remember ALL THE TIME.

Like when my day is going like this:


via GIPHY

All it takes is a quick recap of the gospel in my head (via verses 7 and 8) to be like this:

via GIPHY

And that GIF makes my day. Well, Jesus made my day, but they certainly taught me a lesson on how to feel about it. 


Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!