Romans 4:17

As it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.” He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed—the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being things that were not.

(v17, NIV)

Apparently, he is the father of us all. Those who follow in his footsteps of a crediting of righteousness by faith are those who he is a father to. A quote is even taken from Genesis here to refer to God's promise to Abraham. Paul goes on to talk about a God who gives life to the dead. He even calls into being things that are not. This is the God whom Abraham believes in. He is able to give life to the dead. God is able to raise Jesus from the dead and he is able to declare those who have faith in him righteous. These who have faith in him are also the ones who are dead. We are spiritually dead and without hope if we are without God. Yet it is God who gives life to us who are spiritually dead, declaring us righteous apart from works. This is a weird concept which seems not to make sense. How do you bring to life something that is dead or how do you call into being things that were not? Sure, it's not so weird because of the stories we read or because of perhaps when someone is resuscitated being near death. However, this seems like something magicians seem to do. They're mere humans who we easily attribute their act to some sort of "trick". However, God is able to do this simply because he is able. He doesn't perform with long sleeves able to hide things. Sure, he doesn't reveal everything to us, but he is God and able to bring the dead to life. This is a powerful God, one whom Abraham put his faith in. Abraham had faith in this God and it was credited to him as righteousness. Those who follow in Abraham's footsteps of faith are fathered by him in a sense.