Scripture:
Galatians 3:6–9
6 So also Abraham “believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”7 Understand, then, that those who have faith are children of Abraham.8 Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you.”9 So those who rely on faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith
Galatians 3:26–29
So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
Romans 4:18–25
18 Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, “So shall your offspring be.”19 Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah’s womb was also dead. 20 Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, 21 being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. 22 This is why “it was credited to him as righteousness.”23 The words “it was credited to him” were written not for him alone, 24 but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness—for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. 25 He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.
Devotional Thought:
Paul wants us to understand something that might surprise us: the promise God made to Abraham was always meant for us. The blessing of all nations was the gospel announced in advance. When God told Abraham that all peoples on earth would be blessed through him, he was previewing the day when people from every tribe and tongue would be brought into the family through faith in Jesus.
If you belong to Christ, you are Abraham’s heir. The promise is yours.
Romans 4 gives us the clearest picture of what Abraham’s faith actually looked like. He faced the facts — his body was as good as dead, Sarah’s womb was dead — and he believed anyway. Not by ignoring reality, but by trusting the God who has power over reality. He was fully persuaded that God could do what he had promised.
This is the faith God credits as righteousness. Not the absence of doubt. Not perfect understanding. But the stubborn, eyes-open decision to trust the God who raises the dead — even when the circumstances argue loudly against it.
The kingdom was promised to Abraham against all hope. And it has come — in Christ, through the resurrection, for all who believe. You are living on the other side of the promise’s fulfillment. Let that fuel your faith for whatever impossible thing you are facing today.
Reflection Questions:
1. What does “against all hope, in hope believed” look like for you practically in your current circumstances?
2. How does knowing you are an heir of Abraham’s promise — fully included in God’s family through Christ — shape your sense of identity and belonging?
Application:
Find someone in your life who is struggling to believe God’s promises right now — someone in a hard season, losing hope. Reach out today with specific encouragement. Share what you’ve been learning this week. Be the voice that speaks hope against all hope.