As with Abraham, so with the Christian
Rom 4:22-25 This is why "it was credited to him as righteousness." (Gen 15:6) The words "it was credited to him" were written not for him alone, but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness— for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.
What is "why"? His faith was "why" it was credited to him, faith which was demonstrated by his being fully persuaded, confident that what God had promised he was able also to perform. But again realized that his being reckoned righteous (Gen 15:6) occurred long before the demonstration of his faith. Faith apart from works saves. ("God credits righteousness apart from works" Rom 4:6b) Though faith will be demonstrated afterwards by one's life.
As for the application of the promise to all believers, and not to Abraham alone, Paul would seem at first to contradict himself where he writes in Galatians 3:16 "The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. The Scripture does not say "and to seeds," meaning many people, but "and to your seed," meaning one person, who is Christ." But he goes on to explain, "If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise." Gal 3:29 And thus the promise given to Abraham applies to everyone who is in Christ.
Note Paul's reference to the resurrection of Christ from the dead, which is always mentioned whenever the gospel is preached in the Bible. The resurrection is the forensic evidence given to validate the gospel message. "What I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures" 1Cor 15:3,4
The Berean Christian Bible Study Resources
Rom 4:22-25 This is why "it was credited to him as righteousness." (Gen 15:6) The words "it was credited to him" were written not for him alone, but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness— for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.
What is "why"? His faith was "why" it was credited to him, faith which was demonstrated by his being fully persuaded, confident that what God had promised he was able also to perform. But again realized that his being reckoned righteous (Gen 15:6) occurred long before the demonstration of his faith. Faith apart from works saves. ("God credits righteousness apart from works" Rom 4:6b) Though faith will be demonstrated afterwards by one's life.
As for the application of the promise to all believers, and not to Abraham alone, Paul would seem at first to contradict himself where he writes in Galatians 3:16 "The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. The Scripture does not say "and to seeds," meaning many people, but "and to your seed," meaning one person, who is Christ." But he goes on to explain, "If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise." Gal 3:29 And thus the promise given to Abraham applies to everyone who is in Christ.
Note Paul's reference to the resurrection of Christ from the dead, which is always mentioned whenever the gospel is preached in the Bible. The resurrection is the forensic evidence given to validate the gospel message. "What I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures" 1Cor 15:3,4
The Berean Christian Bible Study Resources
