17. As it is written in the Scriptures: “I am making you a father of many nations.” This is true before God. Abraham believed in God—the God who gives life to the dead and decides that things will happen that have not yet happened.
18. There was no hope that Abraham would have children. But Abraham believed God and continued hoping. And that is why he became the father of many nations. As God told him, “Your descendants will also be too many to count.”
19. Abraham was almost 100 years old, much past the age for having children. Also, Sarah could not have children. Abraham thought about all this. But his faith in God did not become weak.
20. He never doubted that God would keep his promise. Abraham never stopped believing. He grew stronger in his faith and gave praise to God.
21. Abraham felt sure that God was able to do the thing that God promised.
22. So, “God accepted Abraham’s faith, and that made him right with God.”
23. Those words (“God accepted Abraham’s faith”) were written not only for Abraham.
24. They were written also for us. God will accept us also because we believe. We believe in the One who raised Jesus our Lord from death.
25. Jesus was given to die for our sins. And he was raised from death to make us right with God.