Romans 4:1-5,13-17  1 What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather, discovered in this matter?  2 If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about– but not before God.  3 What does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” 4 Now when a man works, his wages are not credited to him as a gift, but as an obligation.  5 However, to the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness…  13 It was not through law that Abraham and his offspring received the promise that he would be heir of the world, but through the righteousness that comes by faith. 14 For if those who live by law are heirs, faith has no value and the promise is worthless, 15 because law brings wrath. And where there is no law there is no transgression.  16 Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring– not only to those who are of the law but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all.  17 As it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.” He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed– the God who gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they were.

How does faith work? The passage above says that is was because of his faith that Abraham was viewed as righteous. But Abraham was not righteous. He was a sinful human being, one who had been guilty of idolatry. Throughout Genesis we see his continued disobedience to God. Yet God viewed him as being righteous. Why? Because he believed what God had promised. His righteousness was not something in himself, but something given to him by God because of his faith.  The righteousness he had was a gift from God that Abraham made his own possession through faith.

Faith grabs hold of that which God offers, which is Jesus Christ. And it is because faith trusts in Jesus Christ that it will be credited to you as righteousness. Abraham was not the only person to have this kind of faith that would save him, sinner though he was. You also have this faith if you believe God’s promise to you in His Word. If you trust in Jesus Christ, believe that He is the Son of God who died and rose again for you, that will be credited to you as righteousness.

Sometimes people speak about faith as being the thing that saves you, and with the proper understanding that is correct. But that can also be misleading if you think that faith is something that you do that is deserving of a reward from God. Faith only receives something, it does not make something happen. I think about about the surgery that I had recently. I had faith in the doctor to do whatever was necessary to correct the problem. I don’t know or understand all he did, but his actions brought about healing. My faith in him did not accomplish the correction of the problem–the work he did brought the correction. My faith in him simply allowed me to receive the benefit of his work.

That gives us a picture of how our faith in Jesus Christ works. Faith does not accomplish salvation. Jesus did that by His work. It was His perfect life, His innocent suffering and death, and His triumph over death that has earned salvation. Your faith in Him allows you to receive the benefit of His work. The righteousness He won is credited to you through faith. Your faith simply lays hold of that which God freely offers to you.