Was Abraham justified by faith alone? ~ Cross reference of Romans 4:1 to Genesis 15:6

Paul uses a passage in Torah to say that Abraham was blessed by faith alone. This was key for him as he wanted to drive home the point that the Jews were wrong all along in believing that obeying the law is needed to be righteous, when Abraham himself was blessed because of his faith in G-d. He then wants to assert that god now has planned for the redemption of people from their sins through the death of his son and only faith in Jesus can save you.

In Genesis 15, all it is saying that Abraham believed in G-d's promise that he will be blessed and have many descendants. This is not the same as he believed G-d exists and by this faith his sins are forgiven. 

If you examine the passages in Torah about why G-d blessed Abraham you will see that it was not just the faith Abraham had in G-d's promise but that he obeyed G-d's law and did what is right.

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All Greek Text references are from NIV and Tanakh references are from Chabad.

This post is not intended to offend anyone's faith but for those people who are Seeking the truth of THE ONE TRUE G-D of the universe to who we owe all our love, gratitude & devotion.

My encouragement to you is that you read the whole chapter of Tanakh that the Greek text quotes so you get the context and understand what G-d actually said.

G-d Bless and Seek THE Truth.

Romans 4:1 What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, discovered in this matter? 2 If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about—but not before God. 3 What does Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”[a]

Genesis 15:6 And he believed in the Lord, and He accounted it to him as righteousness.

• If you read this chapter in context, G-d appears to Abram right after he rescues lot and kills all the people that took Lot captive. He is scared that G-d may not bless him anymore because of all the blood he shed. So G-d assures him first with "Fear not, Abram; I am your Shield; your reward is exceedingly great.
• Abram asks him how can he become a great nation if he has no child and the servant will succeed him after his death
• Genesis 15:2 And Abram said, "O Lord God, what will You give me, since I am going childless, and the steward of my household is Eliezer of Damascus?"
• G-d tells him his own son who comes from his loins will be blessed not the servant. So G-d takes him outside and shows him all the stars and says that his descendants will be as many as the stars. Abram believes G-d.
• Paul uses this verse as his proof text that Abraham was blessed by G-d because of his faith and not by works.
• There are three issues here. 
• Issue #1: Abraham does not blindly believe what G-d just promised, he asks for proof of how he can know all this will happen. This is not the same "faith" the way Paul uses it to establish that faith in Jesus will save you.
• Genesis 15:8 But Abram said, “Sovereign Lord, how can I know that I will gain possession of it?”
• Issue #2 : There is nothing about faith to atone for sins here, this is a passage about G-d promising Abraham that he will have many sons. 
• Genesis 15:5 And He took him outside, and He said, "Please look heavenward and count the stars, if you are able to count them." And He said to him, "So will be your seed."
• Issue #3 : There are several verses in Torah that clearly show why G-d blessed Abraham. Sadly they are not faith but Abraham's deeds to obey G-d's commands.
• Genesis 17:9 And God said to Abraham, "And you shall keep My covenant, you and your seed after you throughout their generations.
• Genesis 18:18 And Abraham will become a great and powerful nation, and all the nations of the world will be blessed in him. 19 For I have known him because he commands his sons and his household after him, that they should keep the way of the Lord to perform righteousness and justice, in order that the Lord bring upon Abraham that which He spoke concerning him."
• Genesis 22:10 And Abraham stretched forth his hand and took the knife, to slaughter his son. 11 And an angel of God called to him from heaven and said, "Abraham! Abraham!" And he said, "Here I am." 12 And he said, "Do not stretch forth your hand to the lad, nor do the slightest thing to him, for now I know that you are a God fearing man, and you did not withhold your son, your only one, from Me."
• Genesis 22:17 That I will surely bless you, and I will greatly multiply your seed as the stars of the heavens and as the sand that is on the seashore, and your descendants will inherit the cities of their enemies. 18 And through your children shall be blessed all the nations of the world, because you hearkened to My voice."
• Genesis 26:4 And I will multiply your seed like the stars of the heavens, and I will give your seed all these lands, and all the nations of the earth will bless themselves by your seed, 5 Because Abraham hearkened to My voice, and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes, and My instructions."
• Exodus 19:5 And now, if you obey Me and keep My covenant, you shall be to Me a treasure out of all peoples, for Mine is the entire earth. 6 And you shall be to Me a kingdom of princes and a holy nation.' These are the words that you shall speak to the children of Israel."
• Deuteronomy 28:1 And it will be if you obey the Lord, your God, to observe to fulfill all His commandments which I command you this day, the Lord, your God, will place you supreme above all the nations of the earth.