Abraham's faith and justification

[matt721]

According to Genesis 15:6,
"Abram believed the LORD , and he credited it to him as righteousness."

This is the verse that Romans 4:3 refers to when talking about righteousness apart from the works of the law.

Hebrews 11:8-10 says (referring back to Genesis 12:1-4):
"By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God."

My question is this: Since Gen. 12:1-4 occured before Gen. 15:6, was it possible for Abraham to have true faith (Gen 12:1-4) before he was actually justified by God (Gen. 15:6)? If righteousness was not credited to Abraham until later, what do we make of his "faith" prior to that time? After all, it was significant enough to be mentioned in Hebrews 11.

 

[Yelsew2]

God told Abraham to leave Ur and go to the place that he would be shown. Abraham BELIEVED and went! God told Abraham to sacrifice his ONLY begotten son. Abraham BELIEVED and Offered up his Son, though God spared the son.

The key to understanding Abraham is that he BELIEVED God and did what God told him to do. Not once, but consistantly!

How do you look upon your own children when they believe you and do what you tell them to do?

So, Abraham's Salvation, just like ours today comes through our belief in God. It is then that we will do what God tells us to do!

 

[Yelsew2]

By the way, God spared Isaac because of the promise that He'd made to Abraham that he would have descendents as numerous as the stars. Abraham remembered that promise and trusted God do deliver on it! Sure God could have given Abraham and Sarah another child, but what would be the point? In truth, Abraham was a wise thinking man who thought through the facts that he had at hand. We must do the same!