Romans 4:21

King James Version (KJV)

And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.

Adam Clarke
Bible Commentary

And being fully persuaded - πληροφορηθεις, his measure: his soul was full of confidence, that the truth of God bound him to fulfill his promise and his power enabled him to do it.

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Albert Barnes
Notes on the Whole Bible

And being fully persuaded - Thoroughly or entirely convinced; Luke 1:1; Romans 14:5; 2 Timothy 4:5, 2 Timothy 4:17.

He was able - Compare Genesis 18:14. This was not the only time in which Abraham evinced this confidence. His faith was equally implicit and strong when he was commanded to sacrifice his promised son; Hebrews 11:19.

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Matthew Henry
Concise Bible Commentary

The promise was made to Abraham long before the law. It points at Christ, and it refers to the promise, Ge 12:3. In Thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. The law worketh wrath, by showing that every transgressor is exposed to the Divine displeasure. As God intended to give men a title to the promised blessings, so he appointed it to be by faith, that it might be wholly of grace, to make it sure to all who were of the like precious faith with Abraham, whether Jews or Gentiles, in all ages. The justification and salvation of sinners, the taking to himself the Gentiles who had not been a people, were a gracious calling of things which are not, as though they were; and this giving a being to things that were not, proves the almighty power of God. The nature and power of Abraham's faith are shown. He believed God's testimony, and looked for the performance of his promise, firmly hoping when the case seemed hopeless. It is weakness of faith, that makes a man lie poring on the difficulties in the way of a promise. Abraham took it not for a point that would admit of argument or debate. Unbelief is at the bottom of all our staggerings at God's promises. The strength of faith appeared in its victory over fears. God honours faith; and great faith honours God. It was imputed to him for righteousness. Faith is a grace that of all others gives glory to God. Faith clearly is the instrument by which we receive the righteousness of God, the redemption which is by Christ; and that which is the instrument whereby we take or receive it, cannot be the thing itself, nor can it be the gift thereby taken and received. Abraham's faith did not justify him by its own merit or value, but as giving him a part in Christ.

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SDA Bible Commentary (limited)
Volume 1-7

21. Being fully persuaded. Gr. plÃ„â€œrophoreÅÂ, “to satisfy fully.” In the form here used it means to be filled with a thought or a conviction, hence, to be fully convinced. Paul uses the same word to exhort Timothy to “make full proof” of his ministry (2 Tim. 4:5) and to express God’s purpose that by him the gospel should “be fully known” (v. 17). In Luke 1:1 it describes those things which “are most surely believed.”

Real faith means conviction. The life of faith is a life of confidence and assurance. Thus Paul could say, “I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day” (2 Tim. 1:12). It is an error to suppose that lack of such conviction is an evidence of humility. On the contrary, to doubt God’s promises or His love is to dishonor Him, because to doubt is to question His character and His word (see TM 518, 519). It is harder for many to believe that God can love and forgive them, notwithstanding their sinfulness, than it was for the aged patriarch to believe that he would be the father of many nations. But confidence in God that He can do what seems to us impossible is as necessary in the one case as in the other. The sinner honors God by trusting His grace, as much as Abraham did by trusting His power.

What he had promised. That is, what God had promised. Since it was God who made the promise, Abraham believed it without question. Faith in God is in its essence a certain relation of a person to a person. Abraham’s knowledge of God and trust in God were such that the patriarch was ready to accept all that God said and to obey all that God commanded.

Able. Gr. dunatos, which may have a stronger sense than simply “able.” It is rendered “mighty” in Luke 24:19; Acts 18:24; 2 Cor. 10:4. The occasion of Abraham’s acceptance of the promise was not the only time that he showed such confidence in the power of God. His faith was equally implicit and strong when he was commanded to sacrifice his promised son (Heb. 11:19).

The purpose of the discourse on Abraham is to show, with reference to Gen. 17:15-22; 18:9-15, how Abraham’s faith in the promise of a seed through Sarah corresponds in essence to our faith in “him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead” (Rom. 4:24). Abraham’s faith was in a divine power above nature, in One who is able to bring life to that which humanly is dead. And as Abraham’s faith in the promised birth of Isaac involved a further faith in the fulfillment through Isaac of all the promises, so the Christian’s faith in the resurrection of Christ involves faith in all that is signified and assured by that event. Not only in the experience here described, but in his whole life as recorded in Genesis, Abraham stands out as an example of habitual faith in a divine order beyond the natural sight.

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Ellen G. White
Selected Messages Book 3, 396

Every move from the first made by Satan was the beginning of his work to continue to the end to exalt the false, to take the place of the genuine Sabbath of Jehovah. He is just as intent now and more determined to do this than ever before. He has come down with great power to deceive them who dwell on the earth with his satanic delusions.... 3SM 396.1

As we meet the emergency, the law of God becomes more precious, more sacred, and as it is more manifestly made void and set aside, in proportion should arise our respect and reverence for the law.... 3SM 396.2

In the exercise of the longsuffering of God, He gives to nations a certain period of probation, but there is a point which, if they pass, there will be the visitation of God in His indignation. He will punish. The world has been advancing from one degree of contempt for God's law to another, and the prayer may be appropriate at this time, “It is time for thee, Lord, to work: for they have made void thy law” (Psalm 119:126).... 3SM 396.3

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Ellen G. White
The Desire of Ages, 98

But he was greeted with the joyful assurance: “Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John. And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth. For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost.... And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God. And he shall go before Him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years.” DA 98.1

Zacharias well knew how to Abraham in his old age a child was given because he believed Him faithful who had promised. But for a moment the aged priest turns his thought to the weakness of humanity. He forgets that what God has promised, He is able to perform. What a contrast between this unbelief and the sweet, childlike faith of Mary, the maiden of Nazareth, whose answer to the angel's wonderful announcement was, “Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word”! Luke 1:38. DA 98.2

The birth of a son to Zacharias, like the birth of the child of Abraham, and that of Mary, was to teach a great spiritual truth, a truth that we are slow to learn and ready to forget. In ourselves we are incapable of doing any good thing; but that which we cannot do will be wrought by the power of God in every submissive and believing soul. It was through faith that the child of promise was given. It is through faith that spiritual life is begotten, and we are enabled to do the works of righteousness. DA 98.3

To the question of Zacharias, the angel said, “I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to show thee these glad tidings.” Five hundred years before, Gabriel had made known to Daniel the prophetic period which was to extend to the coming of Christ. The knowledge that the end of this period was near had moved Zacharias to pray for the Messiah's advent. Now the very messenger through whom the prophecy was given had come to announce its fulfillment. DA 98.4

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Ellen G. White
Education, 258

For the pardon of sin, for the Holy Spirit, for a Christlike temper, for wisdom and strength to do His work, for any gift He has promised, we may ask; then we are to believe that we receive, and return thanks to God that we have received. Ed 258.1

We need look for no outward evidence of the blessing. The gift is in the promise, and we may go about our work assured that what God has promised He is able to perform, and that the gift, which we already possess, will be realized when we need it most. Ed 258.2

To live thus by the word of God means the surrender to Him of the whole life. There will be felt a continual sense of need and dependence, a drawing out of the heart after God. Prayer is a necessity; for it is the life of the soul. Family prayer, public prayer, have their place; but it is secret communion with God that sustains the soul life. Ed 258.3

It was in the mount with God that Moses beheld the pattern of that wonderful building which was to be the abiding place of His glory. It is in the mount with God—in the secret place of communion—that we are to contemplate His glorious ideal for humanity. Thus we shall be enabled so to fashion our character building that to us may be fulfilled His promise, “I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.” 2 Corinthians 6:16. Ed 258.4

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Ellen G. White
Our High Calling, 119.2

Many pass long years in darkness and doubt because they do not feel as they desire. But feeling has nothing to do with faith. That faith which works by love and purifies the soul is not a matter of impulse. It ventures out upon the promises of God, firmly believing that what He has said, He is able also to perform. Our souls may be trained to believe, taught to rely upon the Word of God. That Word declares that “the just shall live by faith” (Romans 1:17), not by feeling. OHC 119.2

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he was able