From Your Own Life

From Your Own Life

“And behold, the word of the Lord came to him, saying, ‘This one shall not be your heir, but one who will come from your own life shall be your heir. . . . And Abraham believed the Lord, and He accounted it to him for righteousness.” Gen. 15:4-6.

When believers read Romans 4:5, “But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness,” they think that another’s righteousness, namely, Jesus’ righteousness, will be imputed to them. However, this was written with regard to Abraham, and his faith is an example for us.

Then we have to ask this question: “Whose righteousness was imputed to Abraham?” It was not someone else’s righteousness that was imputed to him, but God declared him righteous because he believed that God was faithful. “Now it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him, but also for us. It shall be imputed to us who believe in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead . . . .” Rom. 4:23-24.

According to their understanding, Abraham and Sarah had no reason to hope for a son; yet Abraham believed in God’s work. At that point God didn’t come with a little boy saying that he would be imputed to him. Not at all! He was to receive a son who would not only be imputed to him, but who would come from his own life.

After Abraham had received the promise, he sought to obtain the offspring that God had promised him. Mal. 2:15. But when the birth of his son was delayed, he went the way of human reasoning and received Ishmael (Gen. 16), who was born according to the flesh by a bondwoman.

Even today many people serve God according to their human reasoning. Humanly speaking, they can do much good, but they are under the law. This is what Paul calls “my own righteousness, which is from the law.” Phil. 3:9. Abraham prayed that Ishmael might be allowed to live before God. Gen. 17:18. Also today many people say, “I do my best, and I can’t do it any better.” What they mean is that this has to be good enough. However, God did not accept Ishmael. He wanted to give Abraham a son from Sarah whose womb was dead. “By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised.” Heb. 11:11.

Paul, too, did not want to be found in God with his own righteousness, but with the righteousness that is through faith in Christ, the righteousness that is from God by faith. Many people think as follows when they read this: “I can’t live a righteous life; Jesus’ righteousness must be imputed to me by faith.”

This was also the case with Abraham and Sarah; they could not do it on their own, and while death was working in them, God’s strength was made perfect in weakness. 2 Cor. 12:9. They gave God the glory. We must also go the same way to receive the righteousness of God by faith.

Paul explains it in the following way: “That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death . . . .” Phil. 3:10. Jesus’ life cannot be manifested in our body—in our mortal flesh—unless the dying of Christ is working in us. 2 Cor. 4:10-11.

Jesus died the just for the unjust, and thus we can have our sins forgiven. But when the death of Christ is working in our bodies—over sin in the flesh—then the Holy Spirit gains power over us, and Jesus’ life is manifested through our bodies. Then Jesus’ righteousness proceeds from our life.

The masses hear about Jesus’ death for us, but they are not acquainted with Jesus’ death that is to work in our bodies. They believe only that Jesus’ righteousness will be imputed to them, but not that it shall proceed from their life. They say they do their best, and if those who have the faith of Abraham speak about pursuing perfection, they mock them and become their enemies, just as Ishmael became Isaac’s enemy. They do not believe in divine nature. 2 Pet. 1:4.

After Paul had explained the righteousness of God by faith, he writes further about pursuing perfection. He writes, “One thing I do . . . .” He had the faith of Abraham that perfection would proceed from his own life. Phil. 3:12-14.

This is precisely the area in which corruption has managed to gain such a tight grip on people. John could see this coming. As the apostle of love, he had a deep concern for the people, that they would not be deceived. He writes, “Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous.” 1 John 3:7. These are unmistakable words. It is obvious that he reckoned with the righteousness that proceeds from our own life being the same righteousness that proceeded from Jesus’ life.

Isaac was God’s work in Abraham and Sarah because they believed God and allowed death to destroy their strength. Thus their boasting was excluded. Jesus’ righteousness (which is to proceed from our own life) is the promptings of the Spirit because we believe, so that the death of Jesus can destroy the power of the flesh. Thus our boasting is excluded by the law of faith. Rom. 3:27. Then this word is fulfilled which Jesus cried out: “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his life will flow rivers of living water.” John 7:37-38.