Faith Like Abraham: Trusting God’s Promises

Our text this morning gives us a window into what exactly faith is. If you’ve been with us through Romans, you’ve heard it again and again: we are justified by faith. Paul repeats it over and over because it is central to the gospel.

But what does this faith actually look like?
In Romans 4:13–25, Paul points us to Abraham as an example. Abraham was given promises he could never fulfill on his own: descendants as numerous as the stars, a land for his people, and ultimately a blessing for the whole world through his offspring—fulfilled in Jesus Christ.

Abraham was not judged by the law (which came hundreds of years later). He was counted righteous because of his faith. That is why Paul says, “It depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his offspring” (Romans 4:16).

This means faith is not limited to those under the law (the Jews) but extends to all who believe—the Gentiles too. Through Christ, we are grafted in. As Galatians 3:26–28 reminds us: “For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith… There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”
Faith unites us as the people of God.

What Faith Is—and Isn’t
Sometimes we think of faith as “blind faith.” Believing something with no reason, like saying “I can breathe underwater” or “the world is flat” against all evidence. That isn’t biblical faith.
Biblical faith is rooted in the character, promises, and nature of God. Abraham believed that God could do what He said He would do, even when it seemed impossible. Hebrews 11:1 says, “Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”
Faith isn’t an emotion. It isn’t perfect obedience or complete knowledge. It isn’t doing certain religious tasks. Faith is a response to who God is and what He has promised.

The Struggle of Faith
If we’re honest, faith can be fitful. We see this in Abraham’s life, and we see it in our own. Sometimes we trust fully, other times we wobble like a shaky ladder.
In Mark 9, a desperate father brings his demon-possessed son to Jesus. He says, “If you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” Jesus replies, “If you can! All things are possible for one who believes.” The father cries out, “I believe; help my unbelief!”
That’s real faith. Imperfect, but honest. Dependent. Crying out to God for more. And Jesus responds with compassion and power.

Faith That Produces Works
Faith is not simply knowledge of God—after all, James tells us that even demons believe and shudder. True faith produces fruit. James 2:17 reminds us, “Faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.”
Good works don’t save us, but they reveal living faith. Abraham showed his faith not just by believing God’s promises, but by acting in obedience—even when tested with Isaac. Faith led him to trust God completely, believing God could even raise the dead.

Our Faith Today
The same God Abraham trusted is the God we trust today—the Creator of galaxies, the One who raises the dead, the One who keeps His promises. Scripture is full of more than 8,000 promises from God: to provide, to guide, to forgive, to give eternal life, to comfort, to be faithful.

So the question is: are we fully convinced that God will do what He has promised?
Like the father in Mark 9, sometimes the most faithful prayer we can pray is:

“I believe; help my unbelief.”
Faith is not about having it all together—it’s about trusting the One who does.