Abraham's Righteousness

In Christ, we have become sons of Abraham (Gal. 3:7).  This is a favored distinction of Paul's for believers, yet it is pregnant with theological import.  Understanding that we have become the progeny of Abraham and inherited his covenant through confession and belief in Jesus sheds valuable light on both the Old and NewTestaments as well as the whole of salvation history.  Because of this, the righteousness of Abraham warrants further examination.

The famous statement concerning Abram occurs in Genesis 15:6, "he believed the Lord, and He credited it to him as righteousness."  The righteousness of Abraham was a matter of faith in the promises of God. Up to this point in chapter 15, God had called Abram to leave his country and extended family to journey to an unknown land.  Abram obeyed in belief acted out.  As a result, God covenanted with Abram through a promise.  Abram believed that God's promise was sure and worthy of obedience and faith.  Therefore, God credited righteousness to Abram as a result of his faith.

Similarly, believers have been called away from our previous lives to enter the unknown land of salvation.  He has called us from our previous pluralism and pagan worldliness in the promise of light and eternal life.  It is by belief in His promises that we become His and, through faith, enter into His Kingdom.

Thus, when Paul equates Christians with Abraham in the manner by which righteousness is credited, he is indicating that not only does righteousness predate the law but, by implication, it does away with any works-based salvation.  Abram's faith had been enacted before it was credited to him as righteousness.  Therefore, our righteousness is credited by the activation of our faith, meaning that the righteousness by faith necessitates action.  Faith that is not actualized does not accrue the righteousness of God and is not true faith (James 1:22-25; 2:14-26).

When Paul says that we have become the descendants of Abraham by faith, he is declaring that our righteousness, like Abraham's, is reliant solely on our faith acted out, not dependent on works of the Law (Rom. 4; Gal. 3).  We need only have faith, trusting that Jesus fulfills all of the promises of God.  This faith should compel us, by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, to action.  Thus faith is wholly realized and righteousness accredited not by any works of the Law but by faith actualized in the hearts and lives of believers.  Praise God for His promises that are utterly fulfilled in Jesus!