‘..Abraham “believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.”’ Galatians 3:6 (Genesis 15:3 “And he believed in the Lord, and He accounted it to him for righteousness.”)

Believing God or having faith in God results in obedience and right actions. Abraham’s belief or faith in God caused him to offer up Isaac when he was tested by God. When Abraham believed God – he was at that very moment declared righteous – not at that instance when Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son (this action only proved Abraham’s belief or faith in God.

Believe in the context of believing God is therefore active not passive and certainly not just a mental assent only. Actions proved the belief – as Abraham’s belief was later demonstrated by his actions when he stretched out his hand over Isaac.  He who says he believes God and continually sin and running towards sin, with no repentance does not really believe – it’s just a mental assent just like what God through the Bible says in James 2:19 “You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!” A true believer’s heart runs away from sin and not towards sin. He lives by faith in God.

‘..the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes.. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.” ’Romans 1:16-17

Abraham’s justified by faith in God. God through the Bible says ‘believing’ in God is ‘NOT works’ but is grace and faith – see Romans 4:3-5

“Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,” Romans 5:1