Abraham's Perfect Faith: Why He was Credited with Righteousness

This comes from the scripture in James 2:18-26 (Taken from the RSV)

But some one will say, "You have faith and I have works." Show me your faith apart from your works, and I by my works will show you my faith. You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe--and shudder. Do you want to be shown, you shallow man, that faith apart from works is barren? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he offered his son Isaac upon the altar? You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by works,
and the scripture was fulfilled which says, "Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness"; and he was called the friend of God. You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone. And in the same way was not also Rahab the harlot justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way? For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so faith apart from works is dead.

In it I noticed a similarity between the Faith of Abraham and the work of Christ on the Cross. The similarity is this: Abraham did give up his only Son, he saw something that was worth more than his own flesh and blood were worth – like it says in Romans 4 “I did not waver in unbelief”

And we say that he was credited with righteousness. Christ gave us the righteousness of faith. This righteousness is God righteousness. He made me his own, his own love. Tell me: is there not a more worthwhile one to give everything to? And is it not a small thing in God’s sight to redeem all his tribes for the faith exhibited in raising one from the dead? Are you telling me God is bankrupt? Does he need me to do anything for Him?

This is the source of steadfastness, looking to the prize – the goal of Christ heavenward. Which is better by far. There is nothing lost in giving up everything, because righteousness is Godly. (we see this promise kept in the Prophets: Isaiah 49:6) the infinite riches of Christ who reconciled us to God by the statement “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?” So when it says we do everything for righteousness (becoming slaves to righteousness in Romans, and being clothed with the righteous acts of the Saints in Revelation 19) Does it not mean something deeper than just going to Church on Sunday?

This means, simply, do not just say that Christ is everything to You, live like Christ is everything to you. Otherwise you will be robbed of glory and riches. They lied to you who said that God doesn't love your deepest perfection and excellence they do not run contrary to each other. They also lied to you who said "you should live a comfortable life" And they pre-eminently lied to you who said God was not the most glorious and valuable one in the universe. Don't just life comfortably anymore, you are indeed priceless in your choosing of God.