Faith counted For Righteousness

When God told Abraham to leave his homeland, Abraham had simply obeyed, not knowing where he went.  One of the first things he had done when he came into the land was to build and altar and worship God.  He had unselfishly given Lot the choice as to which land he would claim, and had then put his own life on hold to rescue Lot and his family from the Sumerian and Akkadian army, refusing payment from the Sodomites to avoid any appearance of a connection to their wickedness.  Genesis 15:1 tells us, “After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.”

Abraham had demonstrated his love for God by obeying him.  In return God revealed himself to Abraham in special way, Just as John 14:21 promises.  “He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.”   It is impossible to develop a personal relationship with anyone unless we show a personal interest in them.  As we show that personal interest, they begin to open up to us, and the same thing happens in developing a relationship with God.  God just promised to reward Abraham. 

Abraham asked what God would give him that could make him happier.   He already had everything he needed, and he didn’t have any children to receive the blessings, as we see in Genesis 15:2-3.  “And Abram said, Lord GOD, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus?  And Abram said, Behold, to me thou hast given no seed: and, lo, one born in my house is mine heir.”  Abraham appreciated all the things God had given him, but getting more stuff wouldn’t make much difference since he was old and didn’t have anyone special to leave it to.  Abraham was eighty years old and his wife was only ten years younger.  After years of trying, they no longer had any expectation of having a child.   When he died, one of his servants would inherit his belongings.  

Abraham was serving God out of love, not out of a desire to get something.  As a result, God wanted to show his love for Abraham, as Genesis 15:4-5 tells us.  “And, behold, the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir.  And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.”  Abraham’s biggest desire was to have a child to inherit his property and carry on his genes.  God promised to fulfill that desire beyond his wildest dreams. 

It seemed impossible that a couple who had been unable to have a child in their most productive years could have a child when they were old and the woman was no longer menstruating.  Nevertheless, Abraham believed God, taking him at his word, as Genesis 15:6 tells us.  “And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.” 

Eve had disobeyed God because she believed Satan, that God was essentially lying to them about the effect of eating the fruit.  Having people assume you are lying is very insulting.  When Abraham believed God about something that seemed impossible, it was very gratifying, revealing how much he trusted him.  Because he believed god, he would do what was right in so far as he was capable, and God counted that attitude as being righteous.

Abraham’s righteousness was based on his attitude of faith in god, rather than on keeping the religious demands of the law, because the Law would not be given until after Israel left Egypt after being there for four hundred thirty years, and it would be two hundred years before they went to Egypt.  Romans 4:13-22 tells us, “For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.  For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect: Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.  Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all, (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.  Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.  And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb: 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.  And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.”

Understanding that Abraham was saved by fan attitude of faith, rather than by performing the religious acts of the law is critical for those who wish to be Christians today.  Romans 4:23-25 makes this very clear.  “Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.” 

Notice that we are talking about an attitude of faith, not just a mental acceptance of God’s words.  That attitude of faith affected what Abraham did, as we have already seen.  James 2:14-18 addresses this point.  “What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?  If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?  Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.  Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works.” Our actions demonstrate the depth of our faith.  Faith that does not produce action is dead, and cannot produce salvation.