Abraham was justified before God solely by believing what God told him, and that faith was counted to him as righteousness.
God brought Abraham outside and promised his descendants would be as numerous as the stars. Abraham believed the Lord, and Scripture says the Lord accounted it to him for righteousness. Les Feldick emphasizes that Abraham did not earn this by works or ceremony—he simply believed God, and God imputed righteousness to him.
Genesis 15:6 — This is the foundational verse that directly states Abraham believed God and it was counted to him for righteousness.
Romans 4:3 — Paul quotes Genesis 15:6 to explain that Abraham's justification was by faith, not works.
After God brought Abram outside and promised his offspring would be like the stars of heaven, Scripture records: "And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness" (Genesis 15:6). Paul later quotes this in Romans 4 to explain the basis of justification. Paul writes that if Abraham were justified by works, he would have had whereof to glory, "but not before God" (Romans 4:2). The Scripture then asks, "Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness" (Romans 4:3). The Bible also contrasts the one who works, whose reward is "not reckoned of grace, but of debt," with the one "that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly," whose "faith is counted for righteousness" (Romans 4:4-5).
Les Feldick consistently teaches that Abraham was justified by "faith plus nothing." Using Romans 4, Les points out that if Abraham had been justified by works or by doing something, he would have had something to boast about—but never before God. Abraham did not earn righteousness; he simply believed God, and that believing was placed to the account of Abraham as righteousness (Clip 1). Les emphasizes that Abraham did nothing but believe. In his words, Abraham "didn't repent, he didn't get baptized, he didn't join something, he didn't grovel in the dirt"—he just believed God (Clip 3). Because of that belief, God imputed the very righteousness of God to Abraham and could say, so far as He was concerned, Abraham had never sinned (Clip 2). Les explains that Abraham is the perfect Old Testament example of what it means to be justified by faith and faith alone, plus nothing. He was living in idolatry, merited nothing, and yet God saw in him the potential to believe what He said, reached down, spoke to him, and Abraham's believing was counted as righteousness (Clip 7).
The Bible shows Abraham was justified by faith, not works. Paul asks, "For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God" (Romans 4:2). Les Feldick explains that Abraham did not work—he did nothing but believe—and God counted that believing as righteousness.
No. Paul says that if Abraham were justified by works, he would have had grounds to glory, but not before God (Romans 4:2). Les Feldick observes that no one is ever going to brag to God, "look what I've done," and God would not allow even Abraham to come to that place—while he was waiting, he failed miserably.
According to the Bible, Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness (Genesis 15:6; Romans 4:3). Les Feldick stresses that Abraham did not repent, get baptized, join something, or grovel in the dirt; he simply believed what God said. His believing was the only thing God credited to him as righteousness.
Les Feldick describes Abraham's justification as "faith plus nothing." Abraham was not justified by doing anything; he believed God, and the Lord accounted it to him for righteousness. God imputed righteousness to Abraham because of that faith alone, without Abraham earning it through works.
Abraham Believes God's Promise
Les teaches that when God promised Abram his offspring would be as numerous as the stars, Abram believed in the Lord, and the Lord accounted it to him as righteousness.
Faith Plus Nothing
Les shows that Abraham was not justified by works; he believed God, and his believing was counted as righteousness—faith plus nothing.
God Imputes His Righteousness
Les explains that Abraham's simple believing was counted as righteousness, and God imputed His own righteousness to Abraham, declaring him justified even though he had done nothing.
Abraham's Simple Faith
Les emphasizes that Abraham did nothing but believe God—no repentance, baptism, joining, or groveling—and that simple faith was counted as righteousness.
Abraham as the Ideal Old Testament Example
Les explains that Paul intentionally uses Abraham as an ideal example of a man justified by faith, showing that justification meant the same thing back then as it does today.
No Room for Boasting
Les teaches that if Abraham had been justified by works he could have boasted, but never before God, and even Abraham failed while waiting.
Faith Counted as Righteousness
Les says when God saw Abraham's faith, He accounted it as righteousness—not Abraham's own, but the imputed righteousness of God.
Justified by Faith and Faith Alone
Les explains Abraham was justified by doing nothing and meriting nothing; God saw he could believe and called him, making him the perfect example of justification by faith alone.
Genesis 15:5: And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.
God's promise to Abraham sets up the moment of faith that led to justification.
Genesis 15:6: And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.
This key verse directly states that Abraham's belief was counted as righteousness.
Romans 4:2: For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.
Paul clarifies that justification by works would give grounds for boasting, but not before God.
Romans 4:3: For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
Paul cites Genesis 15:6 as the Scripture that defines justification by faith.
Romans 4:4: Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.
This contrasts earning a reward by works with receiving it by grace.
Romans 4:5: But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
This describes the believer who does not work but trusts God, just as Abraham did.
No. The Bible says Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness. Les Feldick emphasizes that Abraham didn't repent, get baptized, join something, or grovel in the dirt—he simply believed God.
Abraham was justified by faith, not works. Paul writes that if Abraham were justified by works, he would have had something to boast about, but not before God. His faith was counted as righteousness.
It means Abraham's justification was entirely based on his believing God, not on any deed or ceremony. God credited his faith as righteousness without Abraham having earned it.
Les says Abraham merited nothing and was living in idolatry, yet God saw in him the potential to believe what He said. Abraham simply believed, and God made him the perfect example of being justified by faith and faith alone, plus nothing.
Watch the Teaching: God’s Promise to Abraham: Understanding Genesis 12 & 15