(Article: Kenneth Copeland Word Of Faith Study Bible (KCSB) )
(Romans 4:16-25) Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be [a]sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all 17 (as it is written, “I have made you a father of many nations”) in the presence of Him whom he believed—God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did; 18 who, contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, “So shall your descendants be.” 19 And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb. 20 He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, 21 and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. 22 And therefore “it was accounted to him for righteousness.” 23 Now it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him, 24 but also for us. It shall be imputed to us who believe in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, 25 who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification. New covenant salvation is by faith so that it might be by grace. Unlike the old covenant, doing righteousness by the works of the law was the schoolmaster to bring God’s people to the freedom of faith through Christ, The Anointed One and His Anointing (Galatians 3:24). Faith is our part. Grace is God’s part. Grace imputes righteousness by faith, not by works, or by earning it (Romans 4:3). Abraham, the father of our faith, believed God 430 years before the law was given, and his faith was counted to him for righteousness. So righteousness is not achieved by doing good works or by earning it-doing everything just right to please God. Galatians 3:7 says, “Therefore know that those who are of faith are the sons of Abraham.” We are his seed by faith in Jesus Christ (verse 26). Because of the power of the indwelling of His Holy Spirit in us, we are to be “imitators of God as beloved children” (Ephesians 5:1) How does God create and bring things to pass? He calls those things that are not as though they were (Romans 4:17) He believes and speaks, and expects us, as His co-laborers in the earth, to do the same as imitators of Him, Jesus said, “He who believes in Me will do the works that I do also. And he will do greater works than these, because I am going to My Father” (John 14:12). We are to use the measure of the God kind of faith He gave us when we were born again (Mark 11:22; Romans 12:3) to do the works He did, and greater works (John 14:12). The Spirit of God who came to live inside you when you were born again brought His faith with Him. You have God’s own faith living inside you. Second Corinthians 4:13 says “We have the same spirit of faith. As it is written, ‘I believed, and therefore I have spoken. So we also believe and therefore speak.” God used this same principle when He changed Abram’s name to Abraham and Sarai’s name to Sarah. Not only were they now in eternal blood covenant with Almighty God, but speaking each other’s new name, they too began calling those things that were not as though they were. Every day they called each other Father of Many Nations” and “Mother of Many Nations,” their vision grew. Since faith comes by hearing The WORD, Isaac, the son of promise, was eventually born to a ninety year old barren woman and a one–hundred year old man because of their faith in God’s promise and daily calling things that were not as though they were. Proverbs 4:23 says, “Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues [forces] of life.” God’s promise that had grown deep down in their hearts began to germinate and produce the desire of their hearts. Abraham became “fully persuaded that what God had promised, He was able to perform” (Romans 4:21). The faith connection was made, and the manifestation of the promise came into the earth (Genesis 21:2). It works the same way in our lives. Righteousness is imputed to us also when we believe in Jesus and the One who raised Him from the dead. He has made us His righteousness because of our faith in Him (1 Corinthians 1:30). “And whatever we ask, we will receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do the things that are pleasing in His sight” (1 John 3:22). What is pleasing in His sight? Earning our righteousness by doing good works? No. Hebrews 11:6 says, “Without faith it is impossible to please God.” Abraham’s covenant was based on God’s spoken word to him. Our written new covenant is based on better promises because of the power of the new birth (Hebrews 8:6). With the strength of God’s eternal WORD in our hearts and in our mouths we, like Him, are to call those things that are not as though they were. We are to be like Abraham, the father of our faith, who on the strength of his covenant with God “did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strong in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully persuaded that what God had promised, He was able to perform” (Romans 4:20-21). Believers have been given the Name of Jesus and the authority to use it to change natural circumstances (Mark 16:17-18). Faith looks into the unseen based on the covenant promise and despite natural circumstances, speaks the desired end result. Abraham’s and Sarah’s names were changed by God to reflect what He had spoken to them. In agreement with God’s word to them they called those things that were not as though they were, every day, just as we are to do if we, like them desire to see our circumstances change. As a result they became strong in faith, giving glory to God for what He had promised them. They received the impossible. The strength of our covenant with God, ratified in the blood of His own Son and the power of His written WORD, gives us the ability to stand strong, knowing that heaven and earth will pass away, but God’s words will never pass away (Mark 13:31). Victory is assured for us if we, like Abraham and Sarah will stay strong in faith, giving glory to God, and be fully persuaded that what God has promised us in His WORD, He is able to perform. His own faith, already resident in us will heal the sick, raise the dead, and cast out devils (Mark 16:17-18). It will cause mountains to move and accomplish the impossible. It’s time to step out and use it!
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