Faith Before Genesis 15:6

Faith only groups tend to see Genesis 15:6 as the beginning of Abraham's justification, I studied with an Assembly of God Pastor who kept harping on Genesis 15:6 as the moment of total justification, as if it was the moment Abraham had saving faith. Since Paul quoted it in Romans 4:3, we have to ask was Paul using it for a singular moment doctrine, or just a general principal that God recognized righteousness apart from works of the law or flesh.

The law was based upon fleshly ordinances and Paul starts Romans 4 with the flesh context.

Rom 4:1  What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? .

We have to realize that his works were not in purifying the flesh, but were spiritual marks pertaining to faith. Nonetheless his faith was well established and recognized before Genesis 15:6

Genesis 12 shows Abraham had faith before Genesis 15:6. Of course some may argue it wasn't saving faith but that is something they can't prove. It wasn't perfected faith, we know that.

Others say he was justified in Genesis 12, but again there is no such proof that he was formally justified, Catholics arguing justification is on going. This may be true but is unproveable.

Justification can be when God decides to recognize us.

Heb 11:8  By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. 

being called

having faith

obeyed

all before Genesis 15:6, yet he had to have faith accounted again and again after that.

Since Abraham had faith well before Genesis 15:6 it is obvious that Genesis 15:6 is not being used as a singular moment that Abraham was justified. If we were justified by a singular event, at the beginning of faith, then this would have begun in Genesis 12 or earlier. All necessity of belief would have ceased but it continued into Gen 22.

On the other hand, we don't have to acknowledge Abraham was justified in Genesis 12 if he wasn't. Certainly the Holy Spirit knew he had faith. The Holy Spirit also knew it wasn't perfected yet.

The word "believed in" is a continuous action that had a long duration. It is perfected as we live it out.

Faith can be belief in a promise without any action or faith can require action, in Abraham's case it was a long history of action with continued belief and hope. Genesis 15:6 is restatement of past promise after setbacks. Abraham continued belief after many problems had arisen and conquered. cv?