Genesis 15:6 Cross References

Genesis 15:6

6: And Abram believed the LORD, and the LORD declared him righteous because of his faith.

And so it happened just as the Scriptures say: "Abraham believed God, so God declared him to be righteous." He was even called "the friend of God."

In the same way, "Abraham believed God, so God declared him righteous because of his faith."
The real children of Abraham, then, are all those who put their faith in God.
What's more, the Scriptures looked forward to this time when God would accept the Gentiles, too, on the basis of their faith. God promised this good news to Abraham long ago when he said, "All nations will be blessed through you."
And so it is: All who put their faith in Christ share the same blessing Abraham received because of his faith.
But those who depend on the law to make them right with God are under his curse, for the Scriptures say, "Cursed is everyone who does not observe and obey all these commands that are written in God's Book of the Law."

Now then, is this blessing only for the Jews, or is it for Gentiles, too? Well, what about Abraham? We have been saying he was declared righteous by God because of his faith.

Abraham never wavered in believing God's promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God.
He was absolutely convinced that God was able to do anything he promised.
And because of Abraham's faith, God declared him to be righteous.
Now this wonderful truth--that God declared him to be righteous--wasn't just for Abraham's benefit.
It was for us, too, assuring us that God will also declare us to be righteous if we believe in God, who brought Jesus our Lord back from the dead.

For the Scriptures tell us, "Abraham believed God, so God declared him to be righteous."
When people work, their wages are not a gift. Workers earn what they receive.
But people are declared righteous because of their faith, not because of their work.
King David spoke of this, describing the happiness of an undeserving sinner who is declared to be righteous:

It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance. He went without knowing where he was going.

The circumcision ceremony was a sign that Abraham already had faith and that God had already accepted him and declared him to be righteous--even before he was circumcised. So Abraham is the spiritual father of those who have faith but have not been circumcised. They are made right with God by faith.

For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people's sins against them. This is the wonderful message he has given us to tell others.

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