Hope Against Hope

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 unbelief 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.
Romans 4:18-25

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Hope Against Hope
This is what faith does to us. Against all odds and against all the prevailing opinions of the world, faith lays hold of the promises of God. It seemed impossible what God was promising to Abraham and Sarah, however, he keeps his Word. His promises are fulfilled. Abraham is father of many nations. He is your father. He is your father because of the blood of Jesus. Jesus dies to save the world. Against all the world's opinions and even our own sinful heart, the God-man Jesus dies for the sins the of the world and rises again. In that death he sheds his blood for you and me. In that death he destroys death and brings life to light. In your baptism, you are washed in that blood and you became a child of Abraham. It is counted to you just as it was counted to Abraham. You are the righteous in Jesus. Thanks be to God for his good promises to us and for Jesus who keeps those promises for our benefit.