如果你已年近百歲，你的妻子也達九十高齡，你們膝下無子，雖然上帝曾經應許要賜你們一子，但在這種情況下你作何感想﹖你可能已經放棄希望了。你可能懷疑那應許的可靠性，至少，你會想自己大概是會錯意了。

        但亞伯拉罕「在無可指望的時候，因信仍有指望」（18節）。亞伯拉罕「信上帝」，這個信心之舉（他的指望加上實際與他那九十歲的妻子同房）就成了上帝應許得以實現的方式，也成了他被稱為義的辦法。亞伯拉罕相信上帝的話語是神聖不可侵犯的，他抓住上帝的應許，並按照應許行事。上帝見他有如此不凡的信心，便算他為義。亞伯拉罕在上帝的眼中被稱為義了。

        請注意，儘管亞伯拉罕的身體如同已死（19節），撒拉的生育也已經斷絕，但他的信心並沒有軟弱，他的信心還是活的。聖經告訴我們，他接受身體衰老的事實，擁抱屬靈的可能性。他的信心如此堅定，使他終於得見應許的實現，成為「多國之父」（18節）。

        保羅指出，亞伯拉罕之所以被算為無罪，並非由於他經常遵守律法，而是因為他有單純、持久的信心。不只是因為他的行為表現，更是因為他的行動所植基的堅強信心。亞伯拉罕深信上帝是可信的，而上帝也以亞伯拉罕為可信。

        主啊，謝謝您使我們因信蒙福。主耶穌，因著我們相信，您的義就歸入我們的帳下。您也不斷應允人根據您應許所發的信心祈禱。您要我們迫切的呼求您。我們現在就向您祈求……（告訴上帝你所有的需要，然後感謝上帝，相信祂會按著祂在你生命中的計畫來動工）。奉主耶穌聖名，阿們！

English

        How would you feel if you were almost 100 years old, your wife was 90; and you were still childless, even though God had promised you a son? You probably would have given up hope by now. You’d question the accuracy of the promise: at least, thinking that maybe you had misread the lines.

        But Abraham, “against all hope… in hope believed” (v.18). He “believed God” and this act of faith (the hope plus the act of physically loving his 90-years-old wide) became the means, not only of the promise being fulfilled, but also of his justification. Because of his belief in the inviolability of God’s word, Abraham hung on to the promise and acted upon it. God, seeing this remarkable faith, counted it as “righteousness”, and Abraham was justified in His sight.

        Notice that Abraham’s faith did not weaken, in spite of the physical realities. His body “was as good as dead” (v.19) and “Sarah’s womb was also dead”, but his faith was alive. The Bible says he simply “faced the fact” of the physical limitations and embraced the spiritual possibilities. His faith was so strong that he saw the promise fulfilled and became “the father of many nations.” (v.18)

        Paul makes the point the Abraham was vindicated, not because he was unusually adept at obeying the Law, but use of simple, persistent faith (v.13). It wasn’t his performance alone – but the tenacity of the belief upon which his actions were founded. Abraham was convinced that God could be trusted and, in return, God trusted Abraham.

        Thank you, Lord, for the blessings of believing. Your righteousness is put on our account, Lord Jesus, because we believe. Also, You constantly respond to believing prayer according to Your Promises. You invite us to call upon You fervently. We do so now… (Tell God about all those areas of need and then thank Him, believing that He will act according to His plan in your live.