We frequently quote Genesis 15:6 and Paul’s references to it: Abraham believed the Lord and it was credited to him as righteousness.
We use this to demonstrate saving faith.
But what does the word faith mean, in this instance? It does not mean merely a belief in God. This isn’t faith that God exists; this is not faith in God.
Rather, it is a trust.
Read the context in Genesis 15. In verses 4-5, God gives Abraham a promise.
And Abraham chooses to believe Him.
Abraham doesn’t turn away from God; he doesn’t doubt; he doesn’t believe the claims about false Gods instead. He simply believes God.
He believes God’s word to be truth.
He trusts God.
The Hebrew word here is aman, which means Abraham made firm, he supported, he was faithful to this promise of God. He trusted it.
What if we approached salvation by faith as trusting God’s word, rather than a more vague belief in God?
Now let’s go to another story in the Torah about the Israelites who did not believe God.
God led the Israelites right up to the promised land! He not only offered it or invited them to enter—He commanded them to take possession of it!
Surely this would include protecting them and making a way to get them into the land safely, right?
Deuteronomy 1:21 says “the LORD your God has given you the land. Go up and take possession of it as the LORD, the God of your ancestors, told you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”
And what did they say back?
No, there are giants! We are scared!! We won’t go!!
The Israelites did not trust God.
They didn’t trust Him to provide, or be faithful to His word. They were slaves to their doubts and fears rather than believing God.
In Numbers 14:11 when Moses retells this story, we get the Lord’s response: “How long will these people treat me with contempt? How long will they refuse to believe in me, in spite of all the signs I have performed among them?”
And these people missed out on the promised land. It was given to them, and they refused. They did not have faith in the Lord.
So now, let’s examine ourselves:
What words from God do we have?
Do we honor His Word, the original scriptures, as authoritative?
And do we believe what it tells us?
Or when a self acclaimed prophet “reveals” something contradictory, do we follow that way instead?
Are our fears and doubts leading us astray into forbidden paths?
For example, God’s word says there are no eternal marriages. That might make you feel uncertain, and maybe you feel a lot comfier when someone promises you the opposite claim. Maybe you trust in this other person’s authority rather than the Word of God.
Or when God’s word says you can be saved by grace, of no righteousness of your own, do you believe this? Will you trust God?
Or do we turn our itching ears to a self acclaimed “prophet” who tells us we can win Grace by our ambition, and boast of our own worthiness? And that our worthiness and devotion to the “covenant path” will earn us a higher reward than other Christians?
Are we willing to let go of our pride, leave the arm of the flesh, and just believe what God has proclaimed through his original apostles in the original scriptures?
(Please see here for a list of Biblical scriptures that contradict the LDS church. And the JST didn’t even correct them! So there is no reason, even in Mormonism, to think they aren’t the valid Word of God!)
All I Possess 