Hoping Against Hope Series

Romans 4:18-25. [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 distrust 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. (ESV)

What does it mean for someone to put themselves into a position that requires a hopeful faith? One who did was George Müller, the German-born minister of the nineteenth century. After a wasteful youth and life-changing conversion to Christ, Müller moved to London, where he involved himself in a variety of ministries. Eventually, he was drawn to Bristol, England, where he began ministering to the multitudes of orphan children in the vicinity. Starting with only a few children, he eventually had two thousand under his care…Müller himself lived without financial or material assets, but trusted for all things in the provision of the one whom he believed had promised to meet all of his needs. By Müller’s own testimony, there were times when he would have no food with which to feed the orphans under his care. But acting by faith, he would prepare the table, set the children at their places, and then wait upon God’s provision. Invariably, provision would arrive—a delivery, a knock at the door, an unexpected gift. George Müller was a man who, like Abraham, placed his faith in the God who promised he would provide. “Faith does not operate in the realm of the possible,” Müller wrote. “There is no glory for God in that which is humanly possible. Faith begins where man’s power ends” (Boa, K., & Kruidenier, W. (2000). Romans (Vol. 6, pp. 140–141). Broadman & Holman Publishers.)

The patriarch Abraham had such a hopeful faith through the promise of God, that his descendents, his children would have a future. Abraham had every reason, from a human point of view, to give up the attempt to produce a child through Sarah, as both were well beyond the physical ability to produce children. His hope flew in the face of that which is founded on the evidence of reason and common sense. The ancient patriarch had hope when, from the human vantage point, there was absolutely no basis or justification for hope. Yet despite the seeming impossibility hoped for, he believed it would happen as God said.

People often use the word—“hope” as something that they long for when the odds seem against them, like “I hope to win the lottery”. But Biblical hope springs from the promise of God. Abraham’s faith is not described as a “leap into the dark,” a completely baseless, almost irrational “decision”...but as a “leap” from the evidence of his senses into the security of God’s word and promise (Moo, D. J. (1996). The Epistle to the Romans. The New International Commentary on the New Testament (282–283). Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.).

In Romans 4:18-25, the Apostle Paul shows us through the life and faith of the patriarch Abraham three realities of Biblical hope: 1) Its Analysis (vv. 18–19), 2) Its Assurance (v20- 22), and 3) Its Application (vv. 23–25).

1)The Analysis of Biblical Hope (Rom. 4:18–19)

Romans 4:18-21. [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. (ESV)

In this passage Paul lists seven key characteristics of Abraham’s faith and of all faith that is God-given, the only kind of faith that results in salvation. First, the apostle declares of Abraham that in hope he believed against hope. Grammatically this is known as an oxymoron, a figure of speech in which seemingly contradictory ideas are combined (e.g., thunderous silence, sweet sorrow, etc.). Abraham against hope, or beyond hope, nevertheless (had) hope (KJV Bible commentary. 1997 (2226). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.). John Chrysostom called this situation: “It was against man’s hope, in hope which is of God.” (As quoted in Moo, D. J. (1996). The Epistle to the Romans. The New International Commentary on the New Testament (282). Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.)