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#10. "Fully persuaded that what He had promised,
He was able also to perform" (Rom. 4: 21).
pp. 153 - 155
It is an unspeakable blessing to realize the truth of the fact considered in our last
article, that "He is faithful that promised". Yet there is something more. While
faithfulness to one's purpose is essential to success, yet it may be defeated by lack of
power or lack of wisdom. It is therefore necessary for us to see that not only does the
Scripture ascribe faithfulness to the Lord as the Promiser, but power also.
In connection with Abraham and the promise made to him, we find references not
only to his faith and hope, but to his strength and weakness. And just as we have learned
that our faith is but a reflex of His faithfulness, so we shall learn that our strength of
patience and faith and hope is but the reflex of His great power to carry out all His
word:--
"And being not weak in faith . . . . . 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" (Rom. 4: 19-21).
In Abraham and Sarah we have set forth the complete rest of faith. Sarah judged Him
FAITHFUL Who had promised, and Abraham was persuaded that He was ABLE TO
PERFORM. What more do we need?
The word "able" is really "of power", and the alliteration of verse 21 may be helpful:--
"Abraham was fully persuaded, that what God had promised, He was of power to
perform."
In Heb. 11:, where Sarah accounts God faithful, we shall find that Abraham accounts
Him able:--
"By faith Abraham . . . . . offered up Isaac . . . . . accounting that God was able to raise
Him even from the dead" (Heb. 11: 17-19).
In an earlier paper we observed the connection between "the holy spirit of promise" of
Eph. 1: 13, and the prayer of Eph. 1: 19: "That ye may know what is the exceeding
greatness of the power." When we made the comparison before, it was to show the close
relationship that exists between the promise, the earnest, and the resurrection. We turn
now to the same passage to show the close connection between the promise and the
power. Yet, after all, the only power that is effective in a world held by the bondage of
corruption, is the power of resurrection; so that all these things are intimately connected.