Meaning of Romans 4:17

This verse from Romans 4:17, quoting Genesis 17:5, highlights Abraham's profound faith, which was foundational to his righteousness and his role as the spiritual progenitor of both Jewish and Gentile believers. Paul uses Abraham as the prime example of justification by faith, demonstrating that God's promises are not based on lineage or works but on a steadfast belief in God's power to act contrary to natural expectations. The God Abraham believed in is characterized by two extraordinary attributes: He "gives life to the dead" and "calls into being things that were not." This refers to God's ability to bring life from barrenness, both literally through Sarah's womb, which was beyond childbearing years, and figuratively through His power to resurrect and to create ex nihilo, establishing a new spiritual reality for humanity through faith.

Context and Background

The Apostle Paul is constructing an argument in Romans 4 to demonstrate that justification by faith, as exemplified by Abraham, predates and supersedes the Mosaic Law. He is refuting any notion that salvation is achieved through adherence to the Law. Abraham, a man considered righteous before the Law was given, is presented as the archetypal believer. His faith was reckoned to him as righteousness (Romans 4:3, 9), not because of any merit of his own, but because he believed God's promises even when they seemed impossible. The specific promise quoted here, "I have made you a father of many nations," was given to Abraham when he was old and his wife, Sarah, was barren, emphasizing the supernatural nature of God's covenant with him.

Key Themes and Messages

• Justification by Faith: The central theme is that righteousness before God is obtained through faith, not through deeds or ethnic descent.
• God's Creative and Redemptive Power: The verse emphasizes God's omnipotence, particularly His ability to bring life out of death and to create something from nothing. This speaks to both physical resurrection and spiritual regeneration.
• Abraham as a Model: Abraham is presented as the spiritual father of all who believe, regardless of their ethnic background, underscoring the universal scope of God's redemptive plan.
• The Nature of True Belief: Faith is portrayed as an active trust in God's promises, even in the face of insurmountable obstacles.

Spiritual Significance and Application

For believers today, this verse offers profound assurance. It means that our standing before God is secured not by our own efforts or perceived worthiness, but by our faith in Jesus Christ. Just as Abraham believed God's promise of a son from a barren womb, we are called to believe God's promise of salvation and new life through Christ, even when our circumstances seem hopeless or our past is filled with sin. This faith transforms us, making us spiritual descendants of Abraham, children of the God who orchestrates life from apparent death and brings into existence what was previously nonexistent.

Relation to the Broader Biblical Narrative

This verse is a cornerstone in understanding the unfolding of God's redemptive plan throughout Scripture. It bridges the Old Testament narrative of God's covenant with Abraham and the New Testament fulfillment in Jesus Christ. Abraham's faith foreshadows the faith required to receive God's grace through Christ. The God who made Abraham righteous by faith is the same God who, through the resurrection of Jesus, offers life to all who believe. This narrative arc highlights God's consistent faithfulness and His consistent method of salvation: grace through faith.

Analogies

• The Seed in Dry Ground: Imagine a tiny seed planted in parched, barren earth. It possesses no inherent life-giving power on its own, but when placed in the ground and watered, it can miraculously sprout and grow into a mighty tree. Similarly, our faith, though seemingly small, is planted in the fertile ground of God's promises, and He, the divine gardener, brings forth spiritual life.
• The Sculptor and the Uncarved Stone: A sculptor sees a masterpiece within a raw, uncarved block of stone. The potential is there, but it requires the sculptor's vision and skill to bring it forth. God, in His creative power, looks at humanity, seemingly flawed and incapable, and by our faith, He calls forth a new creation, a spiritual being with the potential for eternal life.

Relation to Other Verses

• Genesis 15:6: "Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness." This is the foundational passage that Paul is elaborating on, establishing Abraham's righteousness as a result of his faith.
• Galatians 3:6-9: Paul makes a similar argument in Galatians, stating that "those who have faith are children of Abraham" and that the Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preaching the gospel beforehand to Abraham.
• Hebrews 11:1: "Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see." This definition of faith directly aligns with Abraham's belief in God's promises concerning descendants and land, even when they were not yet realized.
• Romans 1:17: "For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: 'The righteous will live by faith.'" This verse encapsulates the core message of Romans, reinforcing the idea that righteousness is a gift received by faith.
• 1 Corinthians 1:27-29: Paul emphasizes that God chooses the weak and the foolish to shame the wise and the strong, reflecting God's pattern of bringing about His purposes through seemingly inadequate means, mirroring His ability to bring life from the dead.