When was Abraham justified before God?

We don’t know when Abraham first came to believe in God, or when the Lord first spoke to him. We do know that Abraham was 75 years old when, at God’s command, he departed Haran for the promised land (Gen 12:4). But, presumably, Abraham had come to believe in God before that.

But is that when he was justified? No.

If you read Genesis 12-15, many more events happen in Abraham’s life and in his walk with God. He leaves his home, and builds an altar in Bethel, calling on God’s name (Gen 12:8).

But is that when he was justified? No.

After Lot departed, the Lord promised Abraham land and descendants (Gen 13:14-17) and he built an altar at Mamre (Gen 13:18).

But is that when he was justified? No.

Then Lot was captured by some kings, and Abraham fought them, defeated them, and tithed the spoils to Melchizedek (Gen 14:20).

But is that when he was justified? No.

Then in Genesis 15, God made a covenant with Abraham.

Then He brought him outside and said, “Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them.” And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be.” And he believed in the Lord, and He accounted it to him for righteousness (Gen 15:5-6).

Is that when he was justified? Yes!

God made the promise. Abraham believed it. And God counted that act of faith as righteousness.

So, to recap, was Abraham justified when he believed in God? No.

Was it when he followed God? No.

How about when he built altars to God? No.

Or was it when he tithed to God? Again, no.

So when was Abraham justified?

When he believed God’s promise.

As Paul wrote,

“He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform” (Rom 4:20-21).

God made the promise. Abraham believed the promise. And God reckoned Abraham’s faith in His promise as righteousness.

So that raises the question—when are you justified? Is it when you believed in Jesus in general, or when you believed in Jesus’ promise?

It seems to me that, similar to Abraham, it is not enough to believe in Jesus in a general sense. You must believe in His promise of eternal life.

Consider Paul. What did Paul believe in Jesus for?

However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life (1 Tim 1:16).

Take a lesson from Abraham. Just as it was not enough for Abraham to believe in God in general in order to be justified, it is not enough for you to believe in Jesus in general in order to be justified. Just as Abraham had to believe in God’s promise, so, too, you must believe in Jesus’ promise of everlasting life in order to have it.