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Genesis 15 Commentary
by Brad Boyles
God spoke, Abraham believed.
Then he believed in the LORD; and He reckoned it to him as righteousness.
Genesis 15:6 NASB
I love that we see the first expression of the Gospel here between Abraham and God. Romans 4 highlights this same passage in explaining that Abraham had nothing to boast about because his righteousness was based on his faith in the Lord.
And so the promise was based on faith, in order that the promise should be guaranteed as God’s free gift to all of Abraham’s descendants—not just to those who obey the Law, but also to those who believe as Abraham did. For Abraham is the spiritual father of us all; 17 as the scripture says, “I have made you father of many nations.” So the promise is good in the sight of God, in whom Abraham believed—the God who brings the dead to life and whose command brings into being what did not exist.
Romans 4:16-17 GNB
The “faith reckoned as righteousness” passage here in Genesis is actually quoted four times in the New Testament. It is a revolutionary statement. By all accounts, righteousness cannot occur without work, but that work could not be sufficiently accomplished by man… not even close. Jesus’ work on the cross is God’s seal of delivery on His promise that began with Abraham.
Abraham’s belief was not based on circumcision (because he wasn’t circumcised until Genesis 17), nor was it based on a set of rules or rituals. God acted and Abraham followed. He didn’t just believe in God, he believed God. It ultimately comes down to the difference between knowledge and trust. The irony is that seeking a complete knowledge will always contradict faith.
Faith is “being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” This means we will not experience a complete knowledge but will take God at his Word. Many scholars today debate the ins and outs of Salvation as if we can fully understand how our obedience and God’s sovereignty work together. I’m sure Abraham had questions just like we do. The point to consider is that he put aside those human thoughts to trust and believe in the promise of God and then live his life accordingly.
So, which standard will guide your life? Will you continually seek a complete knowledge that can never be found, or will you submit your heart and mind by faith to the assurance of God’s promises?