The Righteousness of Faith

The law has nothing to do with faith, for “The man who does them shall live by them.” Gal. 3:12. A man is not justified by the works of the law; works of faith are necessary. But we cannot come to these works until we have lost all confidence in ourselves; then the promise is ours. This is why the apostle uses Abraham as an example. We know that as long as Abraham had something in himself or in Sarah in which he could trust, he did not receive Isaac. He had to wait until they were both as good as dead. Then they were so weak that the power of God could be perfected in them; then they received what was promised. It was by faith, and his faith was imputed to him as righteousness. “There you are,” you say. “He wasn’t so righteous after all, because it was only imputed to him.” In saying that, are you implying that Abraham was only to “reckon” that he had Isaac without actually having him? Is that what he did? In a sense it was, because when he received the promise, he believed. Even though he still did not have Isaac at that point (Gen. 15:1-6), he knew it was only a question of time, and the fact that he finally did receive Isaac was evidence that he believed. We see from this that imputed righteousness (justification) was not a “make-believe” righteousness. It signified that the promise was going to be personally fulfilled in Abraham. Therefore Isaac is the son of promise, the one whom Abraham actually received by faith when he had no more confidence in himself or Sarah. That is why it is called “the faith of Abraham,” and those who have Abraham’s faith are Abraham’s children, and heirs of the promises.

We have received the promises through Jesus. He will avenge us of our adversary the devil. He will satisfy us with righteousness—with what is written in the Sermon on the Mount. You say “Impossible!” to that, because you are conscious of the inadequacy of your own strength and see your own wretchedness. What Abraham was promised was just as “impossible,” but still he believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness. “Then it must be reckoned to me as righteousness, too,” you say. Do you mean without you living the Sermon on the Mount in deed and in truth? Without it actually being fulfilled in your life? If that is what you mean, then you do not have Abraham’s faith, because what he believed was fulfilled in him. Most Christians, however, look at themselves and become weak in faith. But Abraham gave God the glory, and so must you! When you lose all confidence in yourself and believe that He who gave the promise is also mighty to perform it, then your faith will be reckoned to you as righteousness. Then you shall see God’s glory, and it will only be a matter of time before it is fulfilled in you personally.

What we can achieve in our own strength is, at best, an “Ishmael.” Our love, mercy, and goodness are so superficial. But that which we receive by faith is genuine truth; it is divine nature. 2 Pet. 1:4.