Romans 4:24
24 But [alla] for [dia] us [hemas] also [kai], to whom [hos] it shall be [mello] imputed [logizomai], if we
believe [pisteuo] on [epi] him that raised up [egeiro]
Jesus [Iesous] our [hemon] Lord [kurios] from [ek] the dead [nekros]; KJV-Interlinear
24 but
for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the
dead Jesus our Lord, ESV
Pauls message continues. Abraham had faith in Gods promises. And that faith was credited to him for
righteousness. Righteousness is
salvation. Abraham was saved based on
His belief in Gods promise, not due to his own personal life or reputation, or
anything he had done.
Abraham knew the purposes of the scarifices. This was handed down from generation to
generation since the time of Adam.
Cain and Abel went in separate directions because of
their different sacrifices.
Adam and Eve received new clothes made of animal skins
because of the sacrifice of an animal.
Adam was promised a savior who would be God, and Eve
was promised that the savior would come from the seed of the woman, making the
savior a man, a human born child. Thus making
Him both God and man, the unique person of the universe.
Abraham was tested in the giving of his only son,
reflecting the sacrifice of the Son of God, who is the only person qualified
for the Cross.
Abraham was promised that His seed would sprout into
many nations, and number as the stars of the heavens. This promise would take many generations, of
people believing in Christ, and many people coming from all nations around the
world.
This promise was not genetic, but from the pattern of faith.
And while some groups claim Abraham as their father,
their claim is in ignorance and misapplied.
His fatherhood is due to faith, and we become his children through our
faith, following the pattern, which he demonstrated.
Our faith is applied to Gods promise to us, just as
his faith was applied to Gods promise to him.
Both are credited as righteousness. Both result in salvation.
And these things are written so that the many
generations after him, can learn, and distinguish faith in Gods Word, from the
efforts of man.
