Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness. (Genesis 15:6)
Call me gullible– I almost joined a cult in college. They had the most loving people and seemed to know the Bible inside out. They believed that a person needed to be baptized in order to be saved, which sounded very “Christian” to my naïve, legalistic ears! When some genuine Christians warned me about this cult, I was skeptical. Then one of them gave me a commentary on Paul’s letter to the Galatians, so I dove into God’s Word, looking for the truth.
I remember reading Galatians 3:6 for the first time. It quoted the key verse from Genesis above, and a light bulb went on. My eyes were opened to the gospel. I began to connect the dots and believe God, like Abram did. I learned from the Apostle Paul that Abraham was counted (or “credited”) righteous before he did anything. This means that Abraham wasn’t righteous by his own works, but this righteousness was all from God’s grace. Likewise, when believers follow in the footsteps of Abraham’s faith and believe in God who raised up Jesus Christ for our salvation, God’s righteousness will be credited to us as well. Moreover, later when God passes between the carcasses as Abraham is asleep, God swears on the highest authority in the universe (Himself) that He will fulfill the covenantal terms that He promised. This too is grace! He who started this good work will see it to completion!
You see, salvation has always flowed from God’s grace. And God’s free gift of righteousness has always been received through faith. Friend, we all need this righteousness to stand before God. Abraham was a sinner, and so are we. But on the cross, Jesus has taken our filthy garments of sin upon Himself and gives us His righteousness. This is so that we boast in Him, not ourselves. Even the good in us comes from He working in us, so God still gets all the glory! Grace.
Our Father has called us to cease from our works and rest in the finished, righteous work of His Son instead. Trust in Him. Be clothed in His righteousness, and rest easy. He will fulfill what He promised. He always has and always will.