"She will bear a son,
and you shall call his name Jesus,
for he will save his people from their sins."
Matthew 1:21
Salvation is shown to faith, it is prepared for hope, but it is given only to charity. Faith points out the way to the land of promise as a pillar of fire, hope feeds us with its manna of sweetness, but charity actually introduces us into the Promised Land. -- St. Francis De Sales
The promise to Abraham and his descendants, that they should inherit the world, did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith (Romans 4:13).
That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his descendants -- not only to the adherents of the law but also to those who share the faith of Abraham, for he is the father of us all, as it is written, "I have made you the father of many nations" -- in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist (Romans 4:16-17).
In hope he believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations; as he had been told, "So shall your descendants be" (Romans 4:18).
That is why his faith was "reckoned to him as righteousness" (Romans 4:22).
Would you build me a house to dwell in? (2 Samuel 7:5)
Let the heavens praise thy wonders, O LORD, thy faithfulness in the assembly of the holy ones! (Psalm 89:5)
For thy steadfast love was established for ever, thy faithfulness is firm as the heavens (Psalm 89:2).
Thou hast said, "I have made a covenant with my chosen one, I have sworn to David my servant: `I will establish your descendants for ever, and build your throne for all generations'" (Psalm 89:3-4). And I will make him the first-born, the highest of the kings of the earth (Psalm 89:27). I will establish his line for ever and his throne as the days of the heavens (Psalm 89:29).
