Romans 4:3
“For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.””
What does Romans 4:3 mean?
Abraham's trust in God's promise to him was the thing that made him right with God, not his own efforts or achievements. Paul is drawing on an ancient story to make a point about how faith works: when we genuinely believe God and his promises, that belief itself becomes the foundation of our relationship with him. This wasn't unique to Abraham, but his example shows us that being "righteous" or acceptable to God has always been about trust rather than performance. It's an encouraging reminder that you don't have to earn your way into God's favor, you simply have to believe him.