Daily Radio Bible Podcast
God made him righteous, and that righteousness was not based on the merit of Abraham. It wasn't contingent on him, it wasn't on his shoulders. It was God who made him right. This is what he discovered.
Being right with God was not like earning wages, it was like waking up to what God has already done. He has already made you righteous before you did anything, he has already forgiven you your sin before you did anything. In fact forgiveness proceeds forgiveness. When we see that God's love for us proceeded anything we have ever done, or ever will do, "Oh what joy" Paul says. So circumcision, or baptism or saying a prayer for forgiveness are all just signs, or acknowledgments of what God has already done.
You are loved!