10 Weeks in Genesis: Lesson 7
WEEK SEVEN: WATCH EPISODE 8 FROM BIBLE IN A YEAR STUDY
RIGHTEOUS BY FAITH:
Genesis 15:6 may be the most significant verse of Scripture we've covered this far, excluding the two that reference the coming of Jesus early on. "He [Abraham] believed the LORD, and God counted it to him as righteousness." Abraham's faith in God's promise resulted in his being declared "righteous." This verse was not written for Abraham's benefit alone but for all of us who "believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord." (Romans 4:22-24) It is vital then that we know and understand neither our righteousness nor the righteousness of any other soul who would walk upon this earth is a matter of works but always one of faith. We can not under any circumstance exert an effort equal to the task of righteousness, nor could we, having once been imparted righteousness by faith, maintain it by our efforts. Righteousness is imparted as a gift and, therefore, upheld by faith and faith alone. No other truth, apart from the person and work of Jesus, has more of a bearing on the writing of the New Testament.
As I pointed out in the previous lesson, only those of faith are children of Abraham; only those of faith belong to the nation of Abraham. You will remember Jesus' words in John 8 that if the Pharisees had been children of Abraham, they would have known and loved Jesus our Lord. Furthermore, Jesus calls Zacchaeus (Luke 19:9) a "son of Abraham," signifying the faith Zacchaeus had placed in Jesus. And we can't forget the woman bent in half (Luke 13:16) for 18 years by an evil spirit. And why was Christ compelled to help her? Because she was "a daughter of Abraham." Paul makes it abundantly clear that the New Covenant's view of the "children of Abraham" is that they are all people of faith.
So then, righteousness has always been by faith. Faith, as the standard for righteousness, is established over 500 years before the Law. But in the days of Jesus and Paul, and even in our days, some preachers still hold the Law of Moses up as a standard of righteousness. Sadly, the Law can do nothing but bring about condemnation and death. Faith and grace, however, are brought about by the Spirit of God and graciously supply righteousness and life.
As I was, this morning, in a Bible study, I have often been asked, "How did the people before Jesus get saved?" It is a reasonable question, but one that comes from a place of misunderstanding about faith and righteousness. Righteousness was never based on works. Never! It has always been based on faith.
Consider Galatians 3:7-9, "Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham. And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, 'In you shall all the nations be blessed' (Genesis 12:3). So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham the man of faith."
Perhaps even more poignant is Romans 4; "What then shall we say was gained by Abraham our forefather according to the flesh? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? 'Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.' Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. And to the one who does not work but trusts him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness."
Why does this really matter? In part because "It is evident that no one is justified before God by the works of the law, for 'The righteous shall live by faith.'" (Galatians 3:11). We know then that no one can be made righteous through the works of the Law. No one can live so well or conduct themselves in such a holy manner as to be declared righteous by God. We see in Psalms 14 and 53, along with Romans 3, that there is no one who is good, no one is righteous, no one seeks after God, not even one.
We need something outside of ourselves to impart righteousness to us, and it can't be the false righteousness of the Pharisees, for Jesus says, "Unless your righteousness is greater than that of the Scribes and the Pharisees, you will never see the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 5:20) We can't stand before God based on our works and hope that we have done good enough to tip the scale in our favor and be spared hell and receive the inheritance of heaven. Righteousness now, as always, has been a matter of faith.
Those before the cross looked to God as the provider of salvation and those of us after the cross look to God as the provider of salvation. For both groups, we find that our attention ultimately lands upon the work of Jesus. Abraham believed God would provide a means by which the world would be blessed and we believe that God has provided that blessing in and through Jesus. The promise God made to Abraham was to "his offspring." "It does not say, 'And to offsprings,' referring to many, but referring to one, 'And to your offspring,' who is Christ." (Galatians 3:16). So then, Abraham understood the promise of God was a spiritual promise that would be fulfilled through a singular descendant.
This is further outlined for us in Galatians 4 when Paul compares the two sons of Abraham. (Abraham actually had eight sons in total, but only the first two were relevant for the lesson Paul was trying to address) When we read Galatians 4:21-31, we see the comparison between the two brothers. Ishmael was the one who came "by flesh," that is, by the will and "work" of Abraham. Isaac was the son who came "by promise," that is the will and work of God. Ishmael was the son of a slave woman and was not counted as an heir of Abraham but rather cast out of the household. (See Genesis 21) Ishmael represents, in Paul's day, the Jews who are held captive to the Law of Moses, aka "Mt. Sinai," and they are destined to remain slaves to the Law. However, Isaac is analogous to the people of faith, corresponding to Mt. Zion or "the Jerusalem above," and Isaac represents those who are free in Christ. At the end of that text, Paul reminds the believers, "So, brothers, we are not children of the slave but of the free woman." In other words, Christians have been set free from condemnation and death and ushered into life through faith.
When I have this conversation, I always find it helpful to consider the first four (at least) verses of Romans 8. We no longer walk according to the works of the flesh but rather according to the work of the Spirit. I also find 2 Corinthians 3:7-11 invaluable regarding the Law and faith. The Law is a "ministry of death." But the ministry of the Spirit has "even more glory." The Law brought about "condemnation," but the Spirit brought a "ministry of righteousness." After all the letter of the Law kills, but the Spirit brings about life through faith. (see 2 Corinthians 3:6)
How is it that you or I or anyone at all could ever come to be righteous before God? By faith and faith alone. If we twenty-first-century saints really understood the beauty of Genesis 15:6 it would alter nearly everything we think and believe about being sons and daughters of God and we would be flooded with such unstoppable joy that the world would marvel at our delight in the Savior.
I have a thousand things more I want to say, but I am saving some of those for a book I have been wanting to write on this topic. Hopefully, this is enough to whet your appetite.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
Righteousness before God has ALWAYS been a matter of faith.
The Law of Moses is a ministry of death and condemnation and those who seek righteousness through it are in slavery
When we rightly attribute our righteousness to the person and work of Jesus we find ourselves resting in the freedom and grace he supplies
DISCUSSION:
What, if anything, stood out to you today in the video? What thoughts were new or encouraging to you?
Why do you think some people think there was a different form of salvation/righteousness prior to Christ?
If anyone could be saved through the works of the Law what would that imply about our "need" for Jesus?
Why do you think Paul refers to those under the Law as "slaves" and what is the significance that the "son of the slave woman does not inherit with the son of the free woman?" (Galatians 4:30)
Why is it important for us to understand that righteousness by faith was established early in the Scripture rather than later?
What is a key takeaway from today's lesson you hope to hold on to?
PRAYER:
God, we thank you for the righteousness supplied to us through Jesus by faith. We recognize that we are not capable in our own work to do anything that would bring us nearer to you. God, teach us to rest fully in the righteousness you have supplied by faith through grace.
