The Jews say that confidently . . .
So do the Muslims . . .
So do the Christians . . ..

When Paul begins to refer to Abraham in the book of Romans, he is bringing up a highly charged topic. The Jews who persecuted Paul all throughout his ministry would argue, "We have Abraham as our Father." They used the same argument with Jesus.

What is the example we can learn from this remarkable man. In Romans, Paul says, "Against hope, in hope he believed, and therefore became the father of all who would believe." [mM paraphrase.] I love it that Paul doesn't sugar coat his description of things. Paul tells us Abraham "faced the fact" that what the Lord promised was, on its face, impossible.

Look at the progression of Abraham's process:

1. He started from a "no hope" frame of reference.
2. He faced the facts.
3. He believed God's Word.
4. Thus it was that he became the "father," i.e. the example for all who would come after him.

Here are a few of the factors Abraham had to ignore:

1. His age and his wife's age.
2. Precedent, nothing like this had ever happened in history.
3. The voices of doubt and fear.

I want to learn about the faith of this man. Frankly, I want the faith of this man. How about you?

Pastor Jim
October 8, 2006