(Rom 4:20) “He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;”  Abraham was instructed to offer his son one day and rose up early the next day to do so. Hebrews tells us since the Lord had specifically said He would multiply his seed through Isaac, Abraham concluded  God would raise him from the dead after the offering (Heb 11:19). Since our Lord can do anything, shouldn’t your faith say, “Lord, I trust You. There is nothing You cannot do.”

(Rom 4:19)  “And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara’s womb:”  If Abram had looked “logically”, humanly, at these things, he would have done nothing. When you read the Bible, never seek to explain away what you read, or fine physical reasons for event. Since God said it took place – it did. Who are we to doubt the ability or the truthfulness of God? 

(Rom 4:18) “[Abraham] Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.”  What is at the heart of “faith”: (Heb 11:6) “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”  Those who do not have faith have not fully embraced the reality of God. Once you embrace the Person of God, then all things (Biblically revealed) become possible.

 (Rom 4:17) “ (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.”  The Lord speaks and then brings to pass what He has said. Saved soul, the Lord has said we sit (present tense) in the heavenlies with Him (Eph 2:6). Lost soul, hell awaits as sure as you are reading this. Souls of men – act accordingly. 

 (Rom 4:16) “Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace;….. (17)…. before Him whom he believed, even God, Who quickeneth the dead,…”  Which was first, the spiritual world or the physical? Since God is Spirit and He made this world, then the spiritual world was first. “…before Him Who he believed…” is referring to Abraham believing God would make life in the dead womb of Sarah – physical. Is it so hard to believe that God needs to and can make spiritual life in our physical bodes, thus…everlasting life? 

  (Rom 4:16) “Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace;….. (17)…. before Him whom he believed, even God, Who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.”   “Quickeneth the dead”: makes alive the dead. This is not referring to the resurrection, though it certainly applies. It speaks of making man’s spirit alive, for all are born soul and body only. Jesus said to go to heaven, you would need to be born spiritually: (John 3:5b) “…. Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. (6)  That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” Have you been made alive spiritually? Are you sure?

(Rom 4:16) “Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace;….. (17)…. before Him whom he believed, even God, Who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.”   The two verses shift from Abraham (his faith) to God, for salvation is given by Him alone. It is no automatic impartation for one who understands and then believes the message. Salvation is an impartation from God Who sees and responds to the individual heart.

 (Rom 4:16) “Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,”  “Faith” is believing, trusting in God’s Word – His Word as good as a promise. Law is not promise, but contract – you do this and I’ll do that. His promise demands nothing but faith, “Believe what I have said”. Grace, unmerited favor is then poured out in the form of “salvation” – everlasting life, making us children and thus fulfilling the “Promise”! 

 (Rom 4:15) “Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.”  This is not saying there are places of where there is not law, a knowledge of right and wrong before God (2:12-16). It is saying that since all have sinned (3:23), wrath (yes, hell fire) falls upon all sinners upon death. Salvation comes only through faith (faith = action; embracing Jesus as payment for our sins).