Romans 4:9-11, Abraham had faith before he had the law

Which came first the chicken or the egg? Paul poses the same sort of question to the church of Rome as he tries to get them to understand that salvation does not come by the keeping of the law or works. He asks if Abraham was perceived as righteous in God’s eye before or after he was circumcised. Paul doesn’t leave them hanging to debate the answer like the chicken vs. egg debate, he lets them know that Abraham was righteous in God’s eyes before he took upon himself circumcision. As we have seen in earlier teachings from the Apostle Paul the Law of God was never what brought about salvation, it was simply in place to show everyone what sin truly was. The keeping of the law never brought about salvation to anyone, it was always their faith in God and their faith that God would make a way for those who truly loved and served Him
Early in the book of Genesis, God promises to send a savior that would take care of our sin problem for ever. This Savior was Jesus Christ. Just like we are saved by our faith in a promise that has been fulfilled, Old Testament believers was saved by their faith in a promise that had not yet been fulfilled. There ability to keep the law didn’t make them righteous in God’s eye but instead their faith in God to provide for them just as Abraham did was their salvation. They looked forward to the day that the messiah would arrive and lived their life in expectation that it would any time just as we live our modern lives with the expectation that Jesus will return for us at any time. Abraham’s faith alone made him righteous in the eyes of God and our faith does the same today. Without faith it is impossible to please God. (Hebrews 11:6)