Being fully persuaded that what God had promised, He was also able to perform. (Rom. 4:21)
What does it mean to be ‘fully persuaded?’ If one can be fully persuaded it would imply that it is possible to be partially persuaded as well. Being fully persuaded would be description of faith: faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (Heb. 11:1)
It would seem that one who is partially persuaded acknowledges the truth and has a good understanding of truth, but is not committed to living according to truth. The partially persuaded live in two worlds; the world of self effort, fear and doubt, and the world of faith. Rather than growing in faith, they tend to see faith as an emergency frequency that may or may not get the desired results. Just to be safe, the partially persuaded trust in themselves as much as possible.
Abraham wasn’t always fully persuaded. He attempted to fulfill God’s promise through his own efforts. After that obvious failure Abraham grew to be fully persuaded in the promise of God. He grew strong in faith.
Until we realize that God is our complete source and His Word is our provision for every need, we won’t be fully persuaded. As Paul said: “I live; yet no longer I, but Christ lives in me. And that life I now live in the flesh, I live by faith toward the Son of God.” (Gal. 2:20) This is what it means to be fully persuaded.
James declares, “For he who wavers is like a wave of the sea, driven and tossed with the wind. Let not that man think that he will receive anything from the Lord.” (James 1:6-7)
I am convinced that being fully persuaded is a decision. It is a decision to believe God’s Word above all else. It is a decision to live by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God (Mt. 4:4), and not by the words of the world. It is the only way to stand firm in a fallen world.