Romans 4:13-25 – Faith in the God Who Gives Life to the Dead

God’s promise to Abraham comes through faith, not the law (Romans 4:13), showing that justification rests on grace and is secured by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Romans 4 now reaches its climax.

Paul has shown that Abraham was justified by faith before works and before circumcision. Now he goes even deeper:

Faith is not only how righteousness is received—it is how God’s promises are secured.

This passage lifts our eyes from Abraham to the God Abraham believed—the God who gives life to the dead.

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The Promise Comes Through Faith, Not the Law (Romans 4:13–15)

Romans 4:13–15 (ESV)
“For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith. For if it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void. For the law brings wrath, but where there is no law there is no transgression.”

Paul makes a decisive statement: the promise did not come through the law.

Why? Because the law cannot produce righteousness—it exposes sin.

• The law defines transgression
• The law reveals guilt
• The law brings wrath upon disobedience

If the promise depended on law-keeping, it would collapse under human failure.

But God designed it differently.

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Faith Secures What Grace Promises (Romans 4:16–17)

Romans 4:16–17 (ESV)
“That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his offspring… in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist.”

Here is one of the most important statements in Romans:

“That is why it depends on faith.”

Faith is not a condition that earns the promise—it is the means that protects it.

Because the promise rests on grace, it is:

• Guaranteed – not uncertain or fragile
• Inclusive – for Jew and Gentile alike
• Secure – anchored in God, not man

And notice the God Abraham believed:

• He gives life to the dead
• He calls into existence what does not exist

This is resurrection power before the resurrection was revealed.

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Hope Against Hope: Abraham’s Living Faith (Romans 4:18–21)

Romans 4:18–21 (ESV)
“In hope he believed against hope… He did not weaken in faith… No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised.”

This is one of the clearest portraits of biblical faith in all of Scripture.

Abraham faced impossible circumstances:

• His body was “as good as dead”
• Sarah’s womb was barren
• The promise seemed humanly impossible

Yet Scripture says:

“In hope he believed against hope.”

This does not mean Abraham ignored reality—it means he trusted God more than what he could see.

True faith is not blind—it is anchored in the character of God.

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Faith Counted as Righteousness—For Us Also (Romans 4:22–24)

Romans 4:22–24 (ESV)
“That is why his faith was ‘counted to him as righteousness.’ But the words ‘it was counted to him’ were not written for his sake alone, but for ours also…”

This is where the passage turns directly toward us.

Abraham’s story is not just history—it is instruction.

What was true for him is now true for all who believe:

Righteousness is still credited by faith.

But now the object of that faith is fully revealed:

“who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord.”

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Delivered and Raised: The Foundation of Our Justification (Romans 4:25)

Romans 4:25 (ESV)
“who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.”

This single verse summarizes the gospel:

• Delivered up – Jesus died for our sins
• Raised – Jesus conquered death
• Justification secured – our righteousness is confirmed

The resurrection is not an afterthought—it is the proof that the work of Christ was accepted.

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A Note on Abraham’s Failures—and God’s Faithfulness

Abraham’s faith was real—but it was not flawless.

In Genesis 16, he attempted to fulfill God’s promise through Hagar. This decision brought conflict and consequences.

Yet Romans 4 does not focus on Abraham’s failure—it highlights God’s faithfulness.

This is not denial—it is theology.

God’s promises are not sustained by human perfection, but by divine faithfulness.

This gives hope to every believer:

Your failures may affect your journey—but they do not cancel God’s promise.

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Teaching Outline: “Faith in the God Who Raises the Dead”

1. A Promise Grounded in Grace (v.13–17)
The promise comes through faith, not law, and is guaranteed by grace.

2. A Faith Strengthened by Trust (v.18–21)
Abraham believed God despite impossible circumstances.

3. A Salvation Secured by Resurrection (v.22–25)
Righteousness is credited through faith in the risen Christ.

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Reflection Questions

• Am I trying to secure God’s promises through effort instead of faith?
• Where in my life do I need to “believe against hope”?
• How do I respond when I fail—do I trust God’s faithfulness or my performance?
• What does the resurrection of Jesus mean for my daily confidence before God?

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Final Encouragement:
Abraham believed in the God who gives life to the dead.

We believe in the God who has already done it.

Jesus was delivered for your sins—and raised for your justification.

So stand firm, not in what you have done—but in what God has promised.

Because the same faith that justified Abraham will carry you all the way home.