OT in NT 3: Faith Before Law

The core message proclaimed through scripture is that faith has always been the pathway to righteousness and belonging to God's people. This truth is plainly stated in Genesis 15:6, where it is recorded that "And he believed the LORD, and he counted it to him as righteousness." This foundational principle demonstrates that a trusting belief in God precedes and undergirds the law.
This understanding is illuminated further when we consider the words of Habakkuk 2:4, which declares, "Behold, his soul is puffed up; it is not upright within him, but the righteous shall live by his faith." The Apostle Paul, in his letter to the Romans, builds upon this existing scriptural foundation, citing both Abraham and Habakkuk to show that righteousness comes through faith. Romans 4:1-8 explicitly points to Abraham believing God and that belief being credited as righteousness, and then further connects this to the forgiveness of sins, illustrating that our standing with God has always been based on active faith rather than adherence to legal codes.
Therefore, the gospel revealed through Christ does not present a new method of relating to God; instead, it brings to full clarity and fulfillment the consistent pattern of trusting God’s promises that was present from the beginning. You are invited to recognize that faith is not an innovation of the New Testament era but has always been central to how God's people are received by Him. This enduring truth should encourage you to place your complete trust in God and His promises today.