2 But Abram said, “O Sovereign LORD, what can you give me since I remain childless and the one who will inherit [c] my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?” 3 And Abram said, “You have given me no children; so a servant in my household will be my heir.”
4 Then the word of the LORD came to him: “This man will not be your heir, but a son coming from your own body will be your heir.” 5 He took him outside and said, “Look up at the heavens and count the stars—if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.”
6 Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness. Gen. 15:2-6
Abram’s faith is marked by a clear realization that God is control of all things. He says, “you given me no children”. He then calls God, “sovereign LORD”. Clearly Abram knows who is in control of his destiny.
The promise made in this passage is quite remarkable. In the short term, God is simply promising to Abram that he will become a father by natural means. He won’t have to leave an inheritance to a servant. God tells him his descendants will be like the stars – innumerable. The Israelites will number in the millions and will be a mighty nation.
The long-ranging significance of this is profound too, for the descendants of the man who would soon be called by God Abraham (with more significance as to his “fatherhood” status) would truly far exceed the Jews by ethnicity.
16Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring—not only to those who are of the law but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all. 17As it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.”[c] He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed—the God who gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they were. Rom. 4:16-17
Paul tells the Roman church that they (Jew and Gentile alike) are the sons, the heirs of Abraham. But how can this be? What is the connection that makes men and women of all nations part of the lineage of Abraham?
A very simple statement is made here in Genesis chapter 15, but one of the most profound importance in understanding God’s redemptive work.
6 Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness.
Furthermore, all who come to God in this simple, trusting and obedient faith are heirs to Abraham. It is faith, not blood that makes us his heirs.
20Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, 21being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. 22This is why “it was credited to him as righteousness.” 23The words “it was credited to him” were written not for him alone, 24but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness—for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. 25He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification. Rom. 4:20-25
It is by Abraham’s faith that he was justified in the sight of God. Abraham was not a perfectly righteous man. Indeed, his roots were in pagan idol worship, but his eyes were opened to God and he had faith in His promises. God in His gracious plan of redemption “counted” Abraham’s faith for righteousness. He credited Him with righteousness he didn’t possess in Himself.
Even so, we who place our faith in the true seed, the true son of promise – Jesus – are credited with righteousness. We enjoy the benefits of His righteousness. Jesus lived out the law perfectly. The perfect lamb of God was the perfect sacrifice. We are covered in His blameless and perfect blood so God sees our unrighteousness and sin no more – only the perfection of His son who died in our place.
We offer God nothing. The soul we return to God is hopelessly stained with our own sins. It is by His grace and His willingness to allow our faith in Jesus as credit for righteousness that allows us to live in anticipation of the Promised Land of His presence.
