Grace Defines Our Faith in God for His Righteousness

"And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness." (Genesis 15:6)

In this verse, we find the heart of the Gospel, the Good News that when we believe in Jesus Christ, we are taken from death to life, and we receive His righteousness, His justified standing before God apart from our Works, but because of Jesus' Finished Work at the Cross.

This is amazing. This is news that should make us happy every day!

"Rejoice in the LORD, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright." (Psalm 33:1)

and also

"For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost." (Romans 14:17)

Now, isn't it remarkable that this powerful verse comes to only five words in the original Hebrew?

I just learned this yesterday, and I think it says a great deal about the connection of grace and faith.

After all, five represents grace.

Here's the entire verse in Hebrew:

והאמן -- He Believed
 ביהוה -- In the Lord
 ויחשבה -- Accounted
 לו -- to Him
צדקה -- Righteousness

Pretty incredible.

Five words.

What are we believing from God?

He makes us righteousness, and He grants it to us as a gift, not as something that we earn.

"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:" (Ephesians 2:8)

It's all about unearned, undeserved favor.

It's a gift, and we witness the message of the Gospel from the outside based on grace.