The Jews had been practicing religious conduct as the means by which they would be made acceptable to and compatible with God. They pursued righteousness through religiously keeping the Law handed down by Moses. But that Law had never replaced the unilateral covenant God promised Abraham He would uphold.

The same is true for us today. No religious practices, no moralistic self-righteousness, can make us acceptable to God. The only way it can happen is by trusting that the promise God made will be fulfilled. Like Abraham, our job is to believe God, as Jesus pointed out in John 6:28–29 “Therefore they said to Him, “What are we to do, so that we may accomplish the works of God?” Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.” (NASB 2020)