Genesis 15:6 (ESV Strong's)
And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness.
Subject: Saving Faith
Abraham is the example in God's word of the man of Faith. The apostle Paul will use the above verse and the life of Abraham to explain "justification by faith and not by works." This is the main verse to demonstrate that argument. Many people during Paul's day (and ours) believe that you must do something to be saved. They falsely believe you must obey the Law (the Ten Commandments in particular) to be saved. Most believe you must "do good" to be saved, or, to be righteous "enough" that God will accept your "good works" as payment for a ticket to Heaven. However, the above statement about Abraham challenges and changes those thoughts. First it should be noted that the above verse states that it was through faith that Abraham had righteousness counted toward him. That blanket statement should be enough. Second, the is statement about Abraham was made BEFORE the Law (the Ten Commandments) were even given. Abraham could not obtain righteousness by "doing The Law" since he was not given the requirements of the law, prior. Third in this section God is telling Abraham that he will have a son and that son will be the one who is blessed and that he will produce more and more sons, all in the line of Abraham. Abraham is old and hasn't seen a son, yet. But, because God told him he would have one, he believed. His faith was then counted as righteousness. We are not saved by works, we are saved by believing in the promises of God. Faith is the avenue for salvation; not works.
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