'And he believed in the Lord; and He counted it to him
for righteousness.'
GENESIS XV. 6.
It is remarkable to find this anticipation of New Testament teaching so
far back. It is like finding one full-blown flower in a garden where
all else is but swelling into bud. No wonder that Paul fastened on it
to prove that justification by faith was older than Moses, than law or
circumcision, that his teaching was the real original, and that faith
lay at the foundation of the Old Testament religion.
1. The Nature of Faith.--The metaphor in the Hebrew word is that of a
man leaning all his weight on some strong stay. Surely that metaphor
says more than many definitions. It teaches that the essence of faith
is absolute reliance, and that unites us with Him on whom we rely. Its
result will be steadfastness. We are weak, mobile, apt to be driven
hither and thither, but light things lashed to fixed things become
fixed. So 'reeds shaken with wind' are changed into iron pillars.
2. The Object of Faith.--'Lord.' It is a Person, not the promise but
the Promiser. Of course, reliance on the Person results in acceptance
of His word, and here it is God's word as to the future. Our faith has
to do with the future, but also with the past. Its object is Christ,
the historic Christ, the living Christ, the Christ who will come again.
How clear the nature of faith becomes when its object is clear! It
cannot be mere assent, but trust. How clear becomes its identity in all
ages! The creeds may be different in completeness, but the object of
faith is the same, and the emotion is the same.
3. The effect of Faith.--Righteous is conformity to the will of God.
Abram was not righteous, but he yielded himself to God and trusted Him,
and God accepted that as the equivalent of righteousness. The
acceptance was shown by the Covenant, and by the fulfilment of the
promises.
So here is the great truth that faith is accepted for righteous. It is
rightly regarded and treated as righteous, by the estimate of God, who
estimates things as they really are. It _is_ righteousness, for--
(_a_) Faith is itself a supreme act of righteousness, as being
accordant with God's supreme desire for man.
(_b_) Faith unites with Christ the righteous.
(_c_) Faith will blossom out into all righteousness.