What You Believe, and What You Do about It (Genesis 15:6)

Genesis 15:6 says, " And he believed in the Lord; and He counted it to him for righteousness."

This is a very famous verse in the Bible for a number of reasons, one of which, is that there are three words used here, [referring to Abraham], for the very first time in the Hebrew scriptures, translated in the English as believed; counted; righteousness.

BELIEVED - This word, in the Hebrew, carries two significant thoughts with it:

1) ACCEPTING what someone [God] says as true

.2) ACTING in behavior or conduct accordingly.

In other words, what you have internally embraced, is demonstrated externally in action.

T.L. Osborn said, there are only two important things in Christianity:

1) what you believe, and

2) what you do about it.

It is a very evident reality, that when you accept what someone says as true, you also place confidence in the character of that person. The other important aspect concerning this word, is that in the Hebrew, the first part of this verse reflects not only a specific event, but is a general commentary on Abraham's life. [i.e., he habitually believed God].

COUNTED - This is an accounting term, but it finds it's way into the legal sphere, meaning "to credit to the account of" someone, [in a legally binding sense], in which it will never be taken away or removed from them.

RIGHTEOUSNESS - This is a seemingly very intimidating word, to which we in the Church, have ascribed many and varying meanings, most of which contain some partial truth as to the true definition and understanding of the term.

First, this too, is a legal term which has two specific meanings:

1) Conformity to some rule or standard, which in most cases, both historically and scripturally, was not written down, but was none the less, understood by all parties involved.

2) A status or position that one attained to, because they conformed to this understood standard, which involved certain rights or privileges.

By looking at two types of law, we can understand the two complimentary definitions of the word. 1) CRIMINAL LAW which deals with behavior, and a verdict of guilt or innocence, and there is

2) CIVIL LAW, which deals with decisions involving property; rights; inheritance; etc.

The two meanings of the word relate to :

1) behavior, and

2) position or status, and all that rightfully belongs to that position or status.

Most significantly, the word group referring to "righteousness", is rooted in the terminology related to the "legitimate" right of a king to rule and reign, based on divine authority. In this setting, the king was "righteous" or the "legitimate" ruler and all he did was "righteousness". He established the laws of the land and enforced conformity to them, based on divine right.This historical setting is the foundation for the use of the term, and as noted, "righteousness" was something the king did, because he was "righteous", or more specifically, who he was determined his behavior, not the other way around.

God established the criteria with Abraham, that to accept what He says as true, and to act like it in our behavior, qualifies us as being righteous, and righteousness has been legally credited to our account by God. Now that we are "righteous", as determined by God, (2 Cor 5:21) we have the right to rule, under His divine authority, over all the power of the enemy,(Luke 10:19) and enforce the standards of His kingdom (Matt. 6:33) [ mercy; prosperity; justice; salvation and deliverance] in the earth. In fact, Jesus died to deal with our sin nature, but He rose again, to ensure that His standards were enforced, through us (Rm. 4:25).We are righteous, and what we do is righteousness, as established by God, through Jesus Christ our Lord; we rule and reign with Him.

You are God's Best and God's Best is Yours.