Yes—Abraham was justified before God by faith: he believed God and God counted it to him as righteousness.
Abraham did not earn God's favor through works, religious effort, or moral perfection. God made a promise, Abraham simply believed it, and that believing was credited to him as righteousness. As Les Feldick teaches, it was 'faith plus nothing.'
Genesis 15:6 — This is the foundational verse where Abraham's belief is counted as righteousness.
Romans 4:3 — Paul quotes Genesis 15:6 to show that Scripture itself says Abraham was justified by faith, not works.
Romans 4:5 — Paul sums up that God justifies the ungodly who believe, with no works involved—using Abraham as the example.
Genesis 15 records that God brought Abraham outside 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." The very next verse says, "And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness" (Genesis 15:6). Paul develops this in Romans 4. He says, "For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness." He then adds, "But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness." This shows that the only thing Scripture places between Abraham and justification is his believing.
Les Feldick stresses that Paul deliberately uses Abraham as the ideal example of justification by faith. In Genesis 15, God gave Abraham a promise, and Abraham believed God, and God counted it to him for righteousness. Les says there were no works whatsoever in Abraham's believing—it was 'faith plus nothing.' Abraham did not join a church, get baptized, or perform a list of religious duties; God is the justifier of them that believe. When Abraham believed, God imputed His own righteousness to Abraham and declared him justified. Les also points out the vast difference between believing God (which becomes faith) and merely believing in God (which only recognizes that He exists). Finally, believers today are connected to Abraham by the same principle: we are brought into relationship with God by faith and faith alone, not by physical sonship.
According to Scripture, Abraham was not justified by works. Paul asks, "For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God." The answer is that "Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness." Les Feldick says that believing involves no works whatsoever—there is nothing physical he could do to merit anything from God. He calls it 'faith plus nothing.'
God brought Abraham outside and told him to number the stars, saying, "So shall thy seed be." This promise looked beyond the earthly nation of Israel—as Les explains, God gave Abraham a promise that ties him to us. Les also notes that God related to Abraham face to face, appearing to him in human form at times.
When Abraham believed, God counted his faith as righteousness. Les Feldick says this is a bookkeeping term—God put righteousness on Abraham's account. God imputed the very righteousness of God Himself to the man, so that God could look at Abraham and say, "Abram, so far as I'm concerned, you've never sinned. You're justified." Abraham had done nothing; he simply believed.
Les teaches that believers in this age of grace are brought into relationship with God the same way Abraham was—by faith and faith alone. We do not physically become sons of Abraham, but believers today can mentally connect to him because, as Les says, "as he was brought into a relationship by faith and faith alone, so am I."
God's Promise to Abraham
God shows Abraham the stars and gives him a promise that reaches beyond the earthly nation and ties him to us.
Abraham Believed God
Scripture says Abraham believed God and God counted it to him for righteousness; no works are involved in believing.
Justified by Faith, Not Works
Les emphasizes that Abraham did not earn righteousness; his faith was placed on his account, so justification is 'faith plus nothing.'
God Imputes Righteousness
God imputed His own righteousness to Abraham and could declare him justified even though he had done nothing.
No Religious Works Required
God is the justifier of them that believe; Abraham did not have to join a church, be baptized, or perform religious duties.
Faith Plus Nothing
All references to Abraham's saving faith are that he believed—plus nothing; we connect to Abraham by faith alone.
Abraham as Paul's Example
Paul uses Abraham as the ideal example of a man justified by faith, and justification meant the same thing then as it does now.
Believing God vs. Believing in God
There is a vast difference between believing God—which becomes faith—and merely believing in God, which only recognizes that He exists.
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 points to a seed as innumerable as the stars and introduces the faith response in the next verse.
Genesis 15:6: And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.
This is the key verse showing 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 rules out boasting through works in Abraham's justification.
Romans 4:3: For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
Paul quotes Genesis 15:6 to ground justification in faith, not works.
Romans 4:5: But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
Paul explains justification for those who believe without working.
Romans 4:20: He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;
Abraham's faith did not waver at the promise, showing that his righteousness came through confidence in God's word.
No. Scripture says Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness (Genesis 15:6). Les Feldick teaches that Abraham did not earn righteousness—it was 'faith plus nothing'—and that no religious work such as joining a church or being baptized was required.
It means God put righteousness on Abraham's account as a bookkeeping act. Abraham contributed no merit; his believing was the basis on which God imputed His own righteousness to him and declared him justified.
Yes. Les teaches that believers in this age of grace are brought into relationship with God the same way Abraham was—by faith and faith alone. The connection to Abraham is the principle of faith, not physical descent.
Watch the Teaching: Abraham Believed God — Romans 4 & Justification by Faith