Genesis 15
Because Abram did not take a reward from the King of Sodom, the most high God was very pleased. He said: “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?” Abram thought that, as he had no children, his servant would be his heir, and have his goods. But God told Abram, “This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir.” Abram was old then, about 85 years old. God brought him out and said to him. “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.” Abram believed God; he did not ask: “How can it be? I am 85 years old and my wife is 75. How can we have a son?” Abram just simply believed God, so God counted it to him for righteousness.
How plain it is! How easy it is! Abram was not a righteous man himself. Abram was a sinner like you and me. But just because he believed God’s word, God counted him righteous. As if God said, “Abram, you are a sinner, but because you believe Me, I count you a righteous man.” God had not told him to act as a righteous man, nor to do something, or keep the commandments and the law, or to be a good man. He just simply and plainly said that Abram BELIEVED GOD, AND GOD COUNTED IT TO HIM FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS. (See Rom. 4:3.) God counts sinners righteous when they believe God’s word, not because of works they may do.
People ask, “Though this is very plain, What is the use of it for me?”
Listen! God says, This was not written for Abram alone but for us too. The Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ, died on the cross for our sins, and afterward he was raised again. If you believe this fact, God counts you just, the same as He justified Abram. (Rom. 4:23-25.) Some say, “I think I may depend on my good works to be made just.” Friends! This is not the way God justified Abram. “But to him that worketh not, but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness” (Rom. 4:5).
Are you a sinner or not? Do you want God to justify you or not? Do you believe God? The Lord Jesus died for our sins and was raised again to justify us. Only believe, accept this work for yourself, and you will be justified by God. (Rom. 3:24,28; 4:5,25; 5:1,9).