13 For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith. 14 For if it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void. 15 For the law brings wrath, but where there is no law there is no transgression.
16 That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his offspring—not only to the adherent of the law but also to the one who shares the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all, 17 as it is written, “I have made you the father of many nations”—in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist. 18 In hope he believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been told, “So shall your offspring be.” 19 He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead (since he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah’s womb. 20 No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, 21 fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. 22 That is why his faith was “counted to him as righteousness.” 23 But the words “it was counted to him” were not written for his sake alone, 24 but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, 25 who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.
God made Abraham the Father of our Faith. Abraham only had two sons, Ishmael and Isaac. But Abraham is the father of many, because all who believe are children of Abraham. God did not make people children by the law but children by faith. It was Abraham who believed. It was Isaac who believed. It was Jacob who believed.
These people passed on the true faith to their children. Even though there were some disappointments along the way, they still instructed their children in the true faith. They taught their children the Law of God and how to live their lives. But more importantly they taught their children to believe in the promises of God.
It was their faith that provided them salvation. St Paul reminds us these people did not believe and get accounted as righteous for their own sake. It was for all those who followed to remember that Jesus Christ died so that you might have life.
Abraham did not know the revelation of Jesus Christ. Isaac did not know the revelation of Jesus Christ. Joseph did not know the revelation of Jesus Christ. But even Jesus tells us we do not believe in him, but he who sent him. Our faith is their faith.
Our faith is not just in the one who died for our sins, but in the one who sent him to die for our sins. Jesus Christ is our Lord and points us to our Father who is in heaven and gives us the Holy Spirit to strengthen us in the true faith. This is your full hope and faith which credits you with righteousness.
These people passed on the true faith to their children. Even though there were some disappointments along the way, they still instructed their children in the true faith. They taught their children the Law of God and how to live their lives. But more importantly they taught their children to believe in the promises of God.
It was their faith that provided them salvation. St Paul reminds us these people did not believe and get accounted as righteous for their own sake. It was for all those who followed to remember that Jesus Christ died so that you might have life.
Abraham did not know the revelation of Jesus Christ. Isaac did not know the revelation of Jesus Christ. Joseph did not know the revelation of Jesus Christ. But even Jesus tells us we do not believe in him, but he who sent him. Our faith is their faith.
Our faith is not just in the one who died for our sins, but in the one who sent him to die for our sins. Jesus Christ is our Lord and points us to our Father who is in heaven and gives us the Holy Spirit to strengthen us in the true faith. This is your full hope and faith which credits you with righteousness.
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