What is the meaning of the saying “Abraham believed God and it was counted to him for righteousness”? Why was his belief counted for righteousness?
The fact that Abraham’s faith brought righteousness is found 4 times in the Word of God.
* Genesis 15:6, “And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.”
* Romans 4:3, “For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.”
* Galatians 3:6, “Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.”
* James 2:23, “And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.”
The realization that this truth is given to us 4 times should draw our attention to its importance. Let’s go back and read Genesis 15:2-6, “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. 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. And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.”
In Abraham’s despair, he asked the Lord for a child to be his heir. Not only did the Lord promise Abraham a son, He promised him that his seed would be as great as the number of stars in the sky. What an incredible (and seemingly impossible) promise! This is the fundamental truth of Christianity. Salvation (righteousness, justification, etc.) comes through FAITH in God’s Word. In spite of how unbelievable the Lord’s promise to Abraham was, Abraham believed what the Lord told him. In fact, we are told that Abraham “believed IN the Lord.” He put His faith in the One who can fulfill impossible promises.
Abraham’s righteousness was not the product of Abraham’s works. No, it was imputed to him because of faith. We read in Romans 4:2-3, “For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.”
Let’s look at a few facts regarding this saving faith:
THE NATURE OF FAITH – The essence of faith is absolute reliance (trust) upon the Lord.
THE OBJECT OF FAITH – Our faith must be upon a person, not an object. Abraham “believed in the Lord.”
THE EFFECT OF FAITH – Righteousness is imputed to those who put their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. We read in 2 Corinthians 5:21, “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” God made His Son, who knew no sin, to be sin (sin offering) for us so that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him. What a wonderful transaction!
In the simplest terms, we learn that Abraham simply believed in God and in His Word. Do you? Do you believe what the Lord has said? He tells us we are all sinners (Romans 3:23). He tells us that our wages for sin is death, but that He has a gift for us…eternal life! (Romans 6:23). The Lord would rather give us a gift than give us our wages. The Lord tells us to believe in the Lord Jesus for our salvation. Romans 10:9 tells us, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” Even as Abraham’s faith brought righteousness to him, so does our faith in the Lord Jesus make us righteous. In closing, let’s read Galatians 3:6-7, “Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.” Have you put your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ? (237.2)