FAITH CREDITED AS RIGHTEOUSNESS

Passage: Genesis 15:1-6

Key verse: 6

NIV

The Lord’s Covenant With Abram

15 After this, the word of the Lord came to Abram(A) in a vision:(B)

“Do not be afraid,(C) Abram.
    I am your shield,[a](D)
    your very great reward.[b](E)”

2 But Abram said, “Sovereign Lord,(F) what can you give me since I remain childless(G) and the one who will inherit[c] my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?(H)” 3 And Abram said, “You have given me no children; so a servant(I) in my household(J) will be my heir.”

4 Then the word of the Lord came to him: “This man will not be your heir, but a son who is your own flesh and blood will be your heir.(K)” 5 He took him outside and said, “Look up at the sky and count the stars(L)—if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring[d] be.”(M)

6 Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.(N)

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Footnotes
  1. Genesis 15:1 Or sovereign
  2. Genesis 15:1 Or shield; / your reward will be very great
  3. Genesis 15:2 The meaning of the Hebrew for this phrase is uncertain.
  4. Genesis 15:5 Or seed
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

God's Covenant with Abram

15 After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: (A)“Fear not, Abram, I am (B)your shield; your reward shall be very great.” 2 But Abram said, “O Lord God, what will you give me, for I continue[a] childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” 3 And Abram said, “Behold, you have given me no offspring, and (C)a member of my household will be my heir.” 4 And behold, the word of the Lord came to him: “This man shall not be your heir; (D)your very own son[b] shall be your heir.” 5 And he brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven, and (E)number the stars, if you are able to number them.” Then he said to him, (F)“So shall your offspring be.” 6 And (G)he believed the Lord, and (H)he counted it to him as righteousness.

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Footnotes
  1. Genesis 15:2 Or I shall die
  2. Genesis 15:4 Hebrew what will come out of your own loins
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. I am your very great reward (1)

After his great victory and his clear decision to reject political power and wealth, Abram went home and thought about his own situation. Lot had returned to Sodom. Fear and a sense of loss crept into Abram's heart. At this time, God's word came to him in a vision. God himself was Abram's shield--his sure protector. God himself was Abram's everlasting portion and great reward.

2. So shall your offspring be (2-6)

Then Abram laid before the Lord his real problem--he had no heir. What good were great possessions to him if he had no son to inherit them? So God took him out of his small, dark tent, and told him to look up and count the myriads of stars which the Creator God had hung in the heavens. This Almighty God promised to give him a son from his own body, and descendants as numerous as the stars. Abram believed God. Heavenly sunlight shone into his dark heart. God forgave his fear and doubt, and his relationship with God was made right.

Prayer: Lord, you are my shield and great reward.

One Word: Faith credited as righteousness