But to one who, not working [by the Law], trusts (believes fully) in Him Who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited to him as righteousness (the standing acceptable to God).
Believing and trusting fully in God, provides eternal credit with GOD. And, this credit produces a righteousness acceptable to GOD, which is absolutely necessary for the salvation experience.
Let me say this again for emphasis;
Believing and trusting fully in God, provides eternal credit with GOD. And, this credit produces a righteousness acceptable to GOD, which is absolutely necessary for the salvation experience.
Rom 4:3
For what does the Scripture say? Abraham believed in (trusted in) God, and it was credited to his account as righteousness (right living and right standing with God).
Exactly how did Abraham believe fully in GOD;
Rom 4:21
and being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able also to perform.
Real trust in GOD comes about when everything else around you says this is impossible.. When people say.., no way.. when circumstances tell you your chances are null and void.. And you STILL, Trust GOD.. Now you are about to enter into that promise of GOD...
Rom 4:19
Without becoming weak in faith he contemplated his own body, now as good as dead since he was about a hundred years old, and the deadness of Sarah's womb;
Can you imagine the ridicule that Abraham received, He was 100 years old and His wife 99..!!! Yet.. they were going to have a baby....AMAZING... But Abraham, relied on God, He trusted in GOD and He held onto GOD..
Because Abraham, Believed, in, Trusted in and relied on GOD, He received the promise a son Issac
Gen 21:2
So Sarah conceived and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the appointed time of which God had spoken to him.
Rom 4:20
yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God,
It is not an on Sundays only faith or a faith on occasion... or having faith when it is convenient and you are not seeing any opposition. Or, when I am having an emotional moment listening to the preacher.. These are not examples of saving faith...
The kind of faith that will get righteousness credited to your account is an enduring Faith, a tested faith and a proven Faith..
It is like what a heard a preacher say one time.."Salvation is free, BUT, it is not cheap."
Rom 4:16
For this reason it is by faith, in order that it may be in accordance with grace, so that the promise will be guaranteed to all the descendants, not only to those who are of the Law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all,
The promise is clearly spelled out to belong to those who have the faith of Abraham. The promise is to us who cling to GOD , to those who rely on God and to those who trust in GOD.
That is why our LORD Jesus says "Few are those who find it"...
Matt 7:14
But the gate is narrow (contracted by pressure) and the way is straitened and compressed that leads away to life, and few are those who find it.
We have become heirs of GOD, joint heirs with Jesus Christ.. Because we have a faith like Abraham's, declared to be the Father of faith.. We are His children if we have that same faith.. Then we obtain the same credit, producing in us a righteousness necessary for salvation...
Yes this faith is far beyond the sinners prayer... This kind of faith is real faith , tested faith and proven faith.. The faith that triumphs over circumstances and endures through trials... This is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith.
Your faith is your most valuable assest, it is far more valuable than the most precious metal or any material possesion on earth.
1 Pet 1:7 so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
Heb 11:17
By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was offering up his only begotten son;
If Abraham's faith had to be tested, to prove He trusted GOD, then we are no different, Yes our faith will be tested as well to verify that we indeed trust GOD as well.
Here is another example of proven faith;
Matt 9:2
And they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralytic, "Take courage, son; your sins are forgiven."
They believed GOD and it was credited to there account as righteousness and therefore Jesus, seeing their faith in action, in corresponding behaviour, in spite of outward conditions, Jesus said, your sins are forgiven.. Can Jesus see your faith???
When we rely on God in this life, when we cling to GOD's promises no matter what things look like, when we trust in GOD no matter what the world is showing us... This faith is credited to our account as righteousness...
How ridicules this must seem to the world that we trust in a man said to be raised from the dead.. , the world says impossible.. And complete foolishness to the unsaved....
Cor 1:18
For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
But in this we rely on, on the Resurrection we trust.. and cling to that very reality ..living alive in the hearts of every believer.. , The faith of Abraham..
Rom 10:9 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;
John 3:16
For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life.
Let us continue believing , continue trusting and continue clinging to Jesus, keeping our credit in good standing with Jesus.. our LORD and our Savior... Praise His Name now and forever..
