Abraham Believed God, Part 2

Yesterday, we began a study of Romans 4:3 which states that Abraham believed God and it was counted unto him for righteousness.

We discussed the word “believe” in depth.

Today, let’s talk about counted or credited. When something is credited to my account in natural life, I have it at that moment. It is in my account. It was the same with Abraham. When he believed God, he was considered righteous because of his believing, because of his faith. And this was before Jesus took his sin and made him the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. It was accounted to him. Righteousness was placed in his account. He was credited as righteous.

We have discussed righteousness many times in previous Pearls, but let’s review. Righteousness is right standing with God. It is considering that you are right with God where you are concerned, in agreement with Him and in line with Him. Right standing----standing in agreement with, aligned with, in line with. Righteousness is standing with God in agreement, aligned with His way of living, in line with, thinking the way He thinks, acting the way He acts, based on the way He thinks. In one place in the Amplified Bible, it states that righteousness is conformity to the divine will in purpose, thought and action. That covers it all.

Conformity to God’s will----God’s will is health and healing, prosperity, the good life, a long life, a life of abundance in every area.

So when Abraham believed God, it was placed to His account as conformity to God’s will in healing and health, prosperity, abundance in his thoughts and actions. But listen to me. We as God’s children who have been born again, who have accepted Jesus as our Savior are righteous. It is not just credited to our account. We are righteous. In 2 Corinthians 5:21 we read: 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. We have been made righteous because Jesus was made sin and took our place and paid the penalty for our sin. He released His nature for us, and His nature is righteousness----right with God. Abraham believed God and it was counted to him as righteousness. We are righteous.

Let’s take this a step further.

In Romans 3:13,16b we read this:
For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. ...inheriting the promise is the outcome of faith and depends entirely on faith.

The promise to Abraham that he should inherit the world was through the righteousness of faith, through the right standing with God that faith brings. Inheriting the promise was the outcome of faith. It depends entirely on faith. Our entire relationship with God is based on faith from the moment we accept Jesus as our Savior until we go home to heaven. It is all about trusting God with every aspect of our lives, and He will bring to pass days of heaven on earth for us, if we will do things His way and take Him at His Word and not back down when times appear to be getting tough. The tougher the times, the greater the faith we should be exercising. It is His faith and it is His work. We MUST learn to depend on Him.

We have been given all things that pertain to life and godliness, according to 2 Peter 1:3,4. God has given them to us. He, the Word, Love Himself, His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness. Think about it. The Word is God (John 1:1). The Word has the divine energy of God, His very life. That life creates faith in God. That faith is trusting Him, knowing His Word is true for you. Devour His Word. Keep it before you night and day. Get up with it. Sleep with it. Eat with it. Walk with it. Work with it. His Word gives you the life you want. Stay with it. Don’t quit. Don’t give up. Don’t give in. Keep on. HIS WORD WORKS!