The ancient promise made to Abraham and his descendants, that they should eventually possess the world, was given not because of any achievements made through obedience to the Law, but because of the righteousness which had its root in faith. For if, after all, they who pin their faith to keeping the Law were to inherit God's world, it would make faith meaningless and destroy the whole point of the promise. For the Law can produce no promise, only the threat of wrath to come. And, indeed, if there were no Law the question of sin would not arise. The whole thing, then, is a matter of faith on man's part and generosity on God's. He gives the security of His own promise to all men who can be called "children of Abraham," i.e. both those who have lived in faith by the Law, and those who have exhibited a faith like that of Abraham. To whichever group we belong, Abraham is in a real sense our father, as the Scripture says: "A father of many nations have I made you." This promise was valid because of his faith in God Himself, Who can make the dead live, and summon those who are in existence as though they were not yet born.
   Abraham, when hope was dead within him, went on hoping in faith, believing that he would become "the father of many nations." He relied on the word of God which definitely referred to "your seed." With undaunted faith he looked at the facts - his own impotence (he was practically a hundred years old at the time) and his wife Sarah's apparent barrenness. Yet he refused to allow any distrust of a definite pronouncement of God to make him waver. He drew strength from his faith, and while giving the glory to God, remained absolutely convinced that God was able to implement His own promise. This was the "faith" which was counted unto him for righteousness. Now this counting of faith for righteousness was not recorded simply for Abraham's credit, but as a divine principle which should apply to us as well. Faith is to be reckoned as righteousness to us also, who believe in Him Who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, Who was delivered to death for our sins and raised again to secure our justification. See that what you have heard from the beginning remains in you. If it does, you also will remain in the Son and in the Father. And this is what He promised us - even eternal life.

Taken from Rom. 4, I Jn. 2, The Phillips Translation and The New International Version.
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