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The suburban phenomenon is fascinating. But as I have studied the evolution of this phenomenon, I have become largely convinced that the suburban dream is almost entirely superficial. Most of my life, I’ve been contained in the clutches of suburbia, so I frequently am reminded of the suburban promise that is yet to be manifested. The promise is one of splendor and euphoria, yet it is a promise that is given no backing, no support—a promise without surety. I can only imagine when, in bygone years, there were billboards throughout the countryside that read, “Come to the suburbs, where you will be happy, wealthy, and really hip!” Promises, promises.…
The apostle Paul observed certain promises, yet the promises of which he spoke were not the types of promises envisioned by the entrepreneurs of suburbia, and neither were they promises made by mere men. The promises Paul had in view were made by the Lord God Himself. Moreover, the promise of God to Abraham was a promise with hope, with eternal ramifications; indeed, it was a promise that boasted awesome proportions.
Within the context of Romans, it is important that we recognize Paul’s rationale in explaining the relationship between the promise of a faithful God and the faithfulness of a man, namely Abraham. As Paul sought to lay the foundation for the doctrine of justification by faith, it was necessary that he first establish the evidence of God’s faithfulness.
While it is clear that Paul’s aim was to demonstrate the faithfulness of Abraham, we cannot conclude that such was his only aim. Paul reminds his readers that their father in the faith was not “weak in faith” (4:19), and that “he did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief” (v. 20). But what is more, Paul adds that Abraham, the father of the faithful, “was strengthened in faith” (v. 20).
What does he mean by saying that Abraham “was strengthened in faith”? The question concerns Paul’s use of a passive verb, which conveys action that is received by the subject. In this case, Abraham’s strength, though it came by means of his faith, was not initiated by him. But in his faith, he was made strong, and therefore Paul writes “ ‘it was accounted to him for righteousness’ ” (4:22).
Indeed, the covenant God of all creation made a promise to Abraham, and the promise was not without surety. God established His promise in one through whom His glory would be demonstrated (4:20). He established His promise and undergirded it with strength. Though it is abundantly verifiable that the promises of men fail and fail again, the promises of our covenant God are promises with surety, promises that are rooted in our faithful God Himself.