“Now it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him, but also for us. It shall be imputed to us who believe in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification” (Romans 4:23-25).
Regardless of when your time and place in history is, the God of heaven requires obedient faith of you. He required it of Adam and Eve and of every one of their offspring. “The just shall live by his faith” (Habakkuk 2:4) is an unchanging principle of God.
Just as there are permanent patterns embedded in nature, God operates on unchanging principles, or spiritual patterns. Therefore, thinking carefully about Abraham’s stubborn, strong, tenacious, unwavering, vibrant faith in God is not an academic pursuit; it is a highly profitable spiritual study, even for those who live after the death and resurrection of Christ. Abraham’s faith gives the diligent student a role model to follow.
Though imperfect on occasion, Abraham’s faith always rose to the occasion. This is far more realistic example for you and me than one whose faith was always flawless.
Just as Abraham’s faith had its greatest challenge when God commanded him to take his only son Isaac to the land of Moriah and offer him there as a burnt offering (Genesis 22:2ff), so our faith is challenged to believe that the death and resurrection of Jesus centuries ago are sufficient grounds for our justification now.
Jesus’ triumphant cry of “It is finished” (John 19:30) two thousand years ago remains God’s unchanging provision for all justification before Him. “The just shall live by his faith” remains heaven’s unchanging principle for all human righteousness.
