Can it be that simple? Is FAITH all that is required? The answer is yes! But there is that feeling that we must still try and be good enough for God to accept us; hoping that our good deeds will outweigh the not so good. People are unsure about Heaven and whether they will be worthy, so we try to be as good as we can. We may endeavour to keep the Ten Commandments or our own personal code of behaviour. But we quickly become totally disillusioned at our efforts to be perfect. Those New Year resolutions are proof enough of our human failures. So, we can draw up a list of all our good works or we can be honest and simply admit we have all failed the righteousness test.

There is a verse in the Bible which has always been a brain teaser to me. It is when Abram was promised by God that he would have a child and become the father of a nation of people. Up to this point Sarai his wife had borne him no children, but Abram BELIEVED God’s promise. Now this is the amazing thing, on the basis of Abram’s simple faith, God credits him with righteousness!

When we understand what this verse is saying, it becomes like a flashing neon sign! I can stop hoping and trying to be good enough; instead, just believe and let God make me righteous in Christ.

It all makes sense now, God was using Abram all those years ago, to proclaim a salvation which is by faith. A Gospel announcement so many years before Jesus was born, crucified and raised from the dead.

Ref. Gen. 15:6, Eccles. 7:20, Romans 10:9-10, Gal. 3:6-9. NIV