Fully Convinced: Faith Alone in Christ Alone Romans 4:18-25

by Jamie Pantastico | Jun 13, 2024 | Daily Encouragement | 0 comments

Are you fully convinced?

Romans 4:18-25 teaches us that we are saved by faith alone, apart from doing anything. Abraham, despite his old age and Sarah’s barrenness, believed God’s promise that he would be the father of many nations. Fully convinced that God would do what He promised, Abraham’s faith was credited to him as righteousness. This happened before circumcision was required and well before the Mosaic law. Paul uses Abraham as an example to show us that salvation is no different for us today (and this is our connection to Abraham as Gentile believers under grace). We, like Abraham, are to be fully convinced that God will save us by simply believing in the finished work of the cross, apart from the law, rituals, or any type of work. Otherwise, we nullify what Christ did on our behalf. For centuries, mankind has added to what was done once for all; the perfect, flawless, finished work of the cross (1 Corinthians 15:1-4, Hebrews 1:1-4).

Faith alone in Christ’s finished work is the only requirement for salvation. Trusting in God’s promise, just as Abraham did, makes us heirs to the promise of eternal life. This message emphasizes the sufficiency of Christ’s sacrifice and our need to rest in His completed work.

Addendum: Being Fully Convinced

The phrase “being fully convinced” in Romans 4:21 is translated from the Greek word πληροφορηθεὶς (plērophoretheis, Strong’s G4135). This term carries a strong sense of complete certainty and absolute assurance. It signifies a state of being fully persuaded and unwavering in belief. This Greek word highlights the depth of Abraham’s faith; he was not merely hopeful but had an unshakeable confidence in God’s promise. This same level of certainty is what we are called to have in the gospel—the finished work of Christ on the cross.

By being fully convinced, we rest in the assurance that our faith in Christ alone is sufficient for our salvation, freeing us from trying to keep the law, add works or rituals to what He has already accomplished.

‘Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be. And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah’s womb: he staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; and being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness. Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; but for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.’

Romans 4:18-25

Daily Power-up

Take a few minutes to read and meditate on these powerful verses:

• Old Testament: Genesis 15:6 – “Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.”
• Gospels: John 6:29 – “Jesus answered, ‘The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.'”
• Paul’s Letters: Ephesians 2:8-9 – “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.”

Reflect on these scriptures and rest in the truth that your salvation is secured by faith alone in Christ’s finished work.