Meditating on Justification
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. 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. 5 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. 6 And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness. (Gen 15:1-6)
Having rescued Lot, his family, and all the people and goods of Sodom from the four invading armies, Abraham had much reason to fear. He had also refused reward for his deeds. God meets him where he is and promises to be both his protection and his remuneration.
Is Abraham satisfied?
No.
Abraham wonders why he is still childless. After all, God had promised that he would become a great nation.
God’s reply is that Abraham should look at the stars and at the sand. If he can count the grains of sand, and number the stars, Abraham would be able to count his descendants.
Though God did not give to Abraham a time frame in which he would become a father, nor a manner in which it would happen, Abraham took Him at His word.
It is then that Abraham’s believing is said to have been counted unto him for righteousness.
What is meant by that?
Simply put, God counted Abraham as righteous because he believed Him.
Why?
Why something so simple as faith?
Why not because he listened to God and left Ur?
Why not righteousness accounted to Abraham because he was monotheistic instead of worshiping multiple idols?
Why, indeed?
Abraham was counted righteous on the basis of nothing good that he had done. He was counted righteous because he believed God.
Yep, God spoke and Abraham took Him at His word.
Why should that be counted for righteousness?
Let’s see…..
1. Unbelief is sin (See 1Jn5:9,10)
2. God promises that He will be to us all that we need and more. We accept that. Thus it is that God becomes our righteousness as well as our protector and reward.
Sound too far-fetched? Just remember that the gospel is the good news of the glory of the blessed God (1Tim 1:11 See it also in the ESV) God is the gospel.
Abraham believed God.
Abraham received God.
Abraham was justified because he believed God.
Nothing more was necessary.
So it is today as well as then.
I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. (Rom 1:16-17)
Just musing…