If Genesis 15:6 Is Where Abraham Was Born Again, How Did He Call on the Lord Before That?

Summary

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Grace in Focus Podcast Summary

Episode: If Genesis 15:6 Is Where Abraham Was Born Again, How Did He Call on the Lord Before That?
Date: February 11, 2026
Hosts: Bob Wilkin, Ken Yates
Produced by: Grace Evangelical Society

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Overview

This episode addresses a nuanced theological question: If Abraham was justified (i.e., "born again") in Genesis 15:6, how could he have been calling upon the Lord or building altars prior to that (e.g., in Genesis 12)? Bob Wilkin and Ken Yates discuss various interpretations of these passages, examine related New Testament evidence, and distinguish between justification, sanctification, faith, and worship. They also reference implications for assurance, rewards, and salvation, addressing classic Free Grace perspectives.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Genesis Timeline: When Was Abraham Justified?

• Listener’s Question: If Genesis 15 is when Abraham was justified, why was he calling on the Lord and building altars in Genesis 12?

• Genesis 15:6 – "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him as righteousness."

• Genesis 12:8 – Abraham builds an altar and "calls on the name of the Lord" (prays and worships).

• Some Bible teachers argue Abraham was saved in Genesis 12, not 15.

• The possibility of a Hebrew grammatical aspect (the VAV consecutive) – could Genesis 15:6 mean "now, he had believed in God"?

  “There are some good teachers that suggest that Abraham was saved in Genesis 12.” (Ken Yates, 02:21)

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2. New Testament Reflections and Interpretations

• Paul’s Citations:

  • Paul cites Genesis 15:6 (Romans 4:3; Galatians 3:6) to support justification by faith apart from works.
  • Galatians 3:8 refers to the earlier promise (Genesis 12) but applies it to the scope of blessing (to Gentiles).

  “If Genesis 12:1-3 is where Abraham came to faith, why doesn’t Paul cite that?” (Ken Yates, 04:32)

• Hebrews 11 Arguments:

  • Hebrews 11 describes Abraham’s faith (even before Genesis 15), suggesting his actions prior to Genesis 15 were by faith.
  • Some suggest this means Abraham was already a believer, since "leaving Ur" happens prior to the events of Genesis 15.

• Interpretational Summary:

  • Justification by faith is implicit in Genesis 12, but Abraham may not have comprehended or believed it until Genesis 15.

  “Justification by faith apart from works, is implicit in Genesis 12:1,3. But Abraham didn’t get it and believe it until Genesis 15:6.” (Bob Wilkin, 06:57)

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3. Calling on the Lord and Unbelievers’ Worship

• Can Unbelievers Call on the Lord?

  • Yes; examples from Scripture show that unbelievers can pray, seek, and worship God before salvation.
  • Acts 10: Cornelius is described as devout, generous, a prayerful "God-fearer"—but he is not born again until Peter preaches Christ to him (Acts 10:43; Acts 11:14).

  “He wasn’t born again or saved until Peter evangelized him in Acts 10...that’s when they were born again.” (Bob Wilkin, 08:52)

  • Acts 16: Lydia participated in prayer with a worshiping group before coming to faith through Paul.

• Calling on the Lord Means:

  • Both praying and worshiping (bowing down, not just singing or reciting prayers).
  • Unbelievers can seek God, engage in worship, or participate in religious activities prior to conversion.

  “Any unbeliever can do that… Most unbelievers, or at least many, call upon the Lord before they’re saved. Absolutely, they’re seeking him.” (Ken Yates & Bob Wilkin, 11:30–11:49)

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4. Rewards and Pre-Conversion Works

• Laying Up Rewards:

  • Are pre-conversion acts of worship or goodness credited as eternal rewards?
  • Hosts tentatively suggest pre-conversion acts can’t lay up rewards, but such acts can still please God or influence one’s future effectiveness as a believer.

  “I don’t think we can lay up rewards before we’re born again, but I do think we can do things before we’re born again that please God… those things can later influence the rewards we lay up.” (Ken Yates, 09:57)

  • Negative influences (e.g., substance abuse) can diminish future service potential after coming to faith.

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5. Worship, Salvation, and Biblical Language

• “Calling on the Lord” in Scripture sometimes means ongoing participation in a worshiping community, not a one-time prayer.

  • Romans 10 and Joel 2 refer to believers calling on the Lord for deliverance and participation in worship, but the act itself does not guarantee the person is already justified.
  • Unbelievers may be drawn to God, seek God, and even join in worship before being born again.

  “How many people went to church before they were born again?” (Bob Wilkin, 12:43)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Abraham’s Justification:

  “If he was justified and born again in chapter 12, it’s odd that we don’t find that stated in the New Testament.” (Bob Wilkin, 06:46)

• On Cornelius:

  “This blows the Calvinist view of total depravity out of the way.” (Ken Yates, 08:18)

• On Pre-Conversion Deeds:

  “I don’t think we can lay up rewards before we’re born again, but I do think we can do things before we’re born again that please God…” (Ken Yates, 09:57)

• On Worship and Salvation:

  “Any unbeliever can do that.” (Bob Wilkin, 11:30)
  “Most unbelievers, or at least many, call upon the Lord before they’re saved… they’re seeking Him.” (Ken Yates & Bob Wilkin, 11:49)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• [01:10] Introduction of question: When was Abraham justified?
• [02:04] Discussion of Genesis 15:6 and Genesis 12:8.
• [03:27] Hebrews 11 and relevance to Abraham’s faith before Genesis 15.
• [04:06] Paul’s use of Genesis 15:6 and Galatians 3.
• [06:57] Synthesis: Implicit faith in Genesis 12, explicit belief in Genesis 15.
• [07:53] Laying up rewards and Hebrews 11.
• [08:02] Cornelius as an example of pre-conversion worship.
• [09:57] Can pre-conversion works influence future rewards?
• [10:41] Focus on Hayden’s original question: How did Abraham call upon the Lord before justification?
• [11:00] Meaning of “calling on the Lord” as prayer and worship, open to unbelievers.
• [12:02] Reference to Zane Hodges’ commentary and Romans 10.
• [12:43] Many unbelievers participate in worship before conversion.

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Takeaway

The episode offers a thoughtful, nuanced answer: While Genesis 15:6 explicitly marks Abraham’s justification, Scripture shows that people can seek, worship, and even act in faith before experiencing saving faith. Calling on the Lord and building altars may denote spiritual seeking or participation in worship—actions possible for an unbeliever. Justification by faith alone remains vital, but the journey toward it can include significant spiritual activity prior to saving belief.

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For further study:

• Zane Hodges, Commentary on Romans (esp. Romans 10:9–13)
• Hebrews 11, Acts 10 (Cornelius), Acts 16 (Lydia)

Visit: faithalone.org for more resources from the Grace Evangelical Society.

Transcript

[A]

The following is a listener supported ministry.

[B]

From the Grace Evangelical Society Today. A question about Abraham. When was Abraham born again? Was it in Genesis 15 or at some other time? Let's talk about it here on Grace in Focus. Glad you've joined us today, friend. This is the broadcast and podcast ministry of the Grace Evangelical Society, a focused free grace organization. Look us [e-mail] get information about our free online seminary, our free magazine Grace in Focus, published six times per year, and about our upcoming national annual conference. This year's theme will be Believe in Jesus for Life and Discipleship. It's held at Camp Copass in Denton, Texas, a beautiful and refreshing place. Also refreshing is the fellowship of our group. We'd love you to join it. It is May 18th through the 21st, and you can get all the other information you [e-mail] now with today's question and answer discussion, here's Bob Wilkin along with Ken Yates.

[A]

We have a question about Abraham.

[C]

Okay, who's this from?

[A]

This is from Hayden. Hayden. He talks about in Genesis 15. And of course, this is something that Paul discusses both in the book of Romans and in the book of Galatians. He quotes from Genesis 15 where it says that Abraham believed God and it was accounted to him as righteousness. And so if we say that this in Genesis 15 was where Abraham was justified, we would say received eternal Life in Genesis 15. The question is, how was it then that he called upon the lord in Genesis 12:8? And I'm going to read that verse.

[C]

All right.

[A]

In Genesis 15 it says that Abraham believed God and it was accounted to him as righteousness. That's Genesis 15:6.

[C]

Right.

[A]

But in Genesis 12:8, three chapters earlier, it says, and he moved from there to the mountain east of Bethel, and he pitched his tent with Bethel on the west and AI on the east. There he built an altar. I guess we could add that into why was he also building an altar if he wasn't a believer and called on the name of the Lord? So Hayden is asking the question, well, if he wasn't saved from the lake of fire, received eternal life until Genesis 15, why is he calling upon the Lord? I guess we could also add, why was he building an altar? I just want to say that there are some good teachers that suggest that Abraham was saved in Genesis 12. And I don't know if I've really talked about with you, Bob, or not. I can't remember if we've ever talked about this. Was he saved from the lake of fire in Genesis 12 and then in Genesis 15 is just what would we call a recapitulation? Is that what we would say? We would interpret it, Abraham had believed God, something like that. And from what I understand, it's something to do with the VAV consecutive in Hebrew that it could be translated. Now, he had believed in God and God had counted it as righteousness.

[C]

Right.

[A]

So it may be that Abraham was saved. And by the way, the arguments I've heard in Hebrews 11 is talking about the faithfulness of Abraham, and it refers to what happened in his life before Genesis 15. That's part of the argument as I understand it. Right, because Hebrews 11 is talking about rewards and it's talking about Abraham leaving Ur of the Chaldees. Right. And traveling well, that's before Genesis 15.

[C]

Right.

[A]

And so if the author of Hebrews is saying that Abraham did this looking for the reward, then that suggests that he was a believer at that time.

[C]

Okay. So Paul cites Genesis 15:6 in Romans 4:3 and also in Galatians 3. I believe it's verse 6 and both of those to support his argument that justification is by faith alone, apart from works. And Galatians 2:16 he said, A man is justified by faith in Christ, not by works of the law. For by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified. And three times I didn't quote the whole verse, but three times he says it's by faith in Christ, justified by faith in Christ. Three times he says it's not by works. And so he uses Genesis 15:6 to support that. If Genesis 12:1, 3 is where Abraham came to faith, why doesn't Paul cite that? Now it is interesting, Ken, Galatians 3, I think it's around verse 8 where he said that God preached the Gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, in you all the nations of the earth shall be blessed. And that's from Genesis 12. What verse is that?

[A]

Galatians 3:8 says, and the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, in you all the nations shall be blessed.

[C]

So that verse is cited, but it's not cited to say that is justification by faith. It's saying that's what that verse meant is that the worldwide blessing was going to be that not only Jews but Gentiles could and would be justified by faith in Messiah apart from works, whether.

[A]

Abraham believed it in Genesis 12 or not.

[C]

Right? Right. And now John Niyamala, a good friend of ours, is very strong on the fact that he's convinced that Abraham was born again and justified in chapter 12 and that in chapter 15. This is. Looking back to Genesis 12, my brain.

[A]

Is kind of fuzzy. You and I both had Alan remember his view. It seems like vaguely that he believed the same thing.

[C]

As far. No, I think if I remember correctly, that he would. See, there's a. The word VAV is basically and here.

[A]

Right.

[C]

And it can be either consecutive or it can be disjunctive. It could be something which is separating it out. And I think Ross's view was he was born again or justified in 15. But you could be right. Maybe it was early.

[A]

I don't know.

[C]

I can't remember and I've forgotten. But I did have him for Genesis in Hebrew, and it was a good class. I really enjoyed it. But here's the point. If he was justified and born again in chapter 12, it's odd that we don't find that stated in the New Testament. What I would say is justification by faith apart from works, is implicit in Genesis 12:1,3. But Abraham didn't get it and believe it until Genesis 15:6.

[B]

It's coming. It'll be here. You know it. What am I talking about? The Grace Evangelical Society's National Conference 2026, May 18th through the 21st at Camp Kopas, an absolutely beautiful campground in North Texas, right on the lake, with lots of recreation, great food, a great place to stay, wonderful fellowship and wonderful free Grace Bible teaching information and online registration [e-mail] events. First timers waive registration fees. Faithalone.org how would you respond to the.

[A]

Hebrews 11 issue, then? If this is talking about rewards, how could an unbeliever be doing things for rewards?

[C]

Well, it seems to me he can do something that's pleasing to God. For example, think of Acts chapter 10 with Cornelius, because in the opening verses, the angel appears to him. And by the way, this blows the Calvinist view of total depravity out of the way.

[A]

It sure does. Cornelius is something they got to stay away from.

[C]

Yeah, because, I mean, when the angel comes, he understands what he's saying and he responds and sends for Simon Peter. But doesn't it say, there, your alms and prayers have ascended to God?

[A]

It says that Cornelius was a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, who gave alms generously to the people. Talking about to the Jews, I think, and prayed to God always.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

And it says in verse four that his prayers and his alms have come up before God.

[C]

So here's a person, and we know he wasn't yet born again because in Acts 11:14, he was told by the angel that Peter will tell you and your household words by which you must be saved. So he wasn't born again or saved until Peter evangelized him in Acts 10, especially 43, but the verses leading up to 43 as well. And that's when they were born again. That's when he came to faith.

[A]

The whole house, by the way, wasn't just Cornelius. It was everyone listening, which would have.

[C]

Included not only family members, but servants and probably some other soldiers, too.

[A]

And as a matter of fact, he sends a soldier to go get Peter. And he's also described in glowing terms a righteous. I don't remember the exact word, but a righteous person like Cornelius.

[C]

Yeah. I've not heard the question you asked about laying up rewards before you're born again. That's a good question. I need to give that more thought. So y' all pray about it, think about it. I will as well.

[A]

Yeah. If one of our listeners, they could jump in here, and if John Diebil is listening, he's like, I told you.

[C]

Send me an email. But in my view, I would say I don't think we can lay up rewards before we're born again, but I do think we can do things before we're born again that please God and that those things can later influence the rewards we lay up. And the opposite is also true. If before I come to faith in Christ, I hinder my brain or my body, that's going to hinder how much I can serve Christ when I come to faith. So say someone does a lot of drugs, mess their mind up, and then they later come to faith in Christ. Well, that's great. They're born again, but they're not going to be as effective in serving Christ as. As they would have been if they hadn't fried their brain.

[A]

And by the way, here, what we're talking about is. Let's just assume that, okay, he was not born again till Genesis 15. So let's get to Hayden's question on.

[C]

Calling on the Lord.

[A]

How did he call upon the Lord? The answer would be very simply, an unbeliever can call upon the Lord.

[C]

So what does it mean to call on the Lord? Doesn't it mean to pray?

[A]

Right. I mean, he.

[C]

And in this case, it's clear it also includes worship.

[A]

Right.

[C]

He built an altar and he gave a sacrifice. He worshiped. And worship, by the way, in the Bible is bowing down before God. It's not singing worship, praise hymns and everything that can be part of it if I'm bowing down my inner self. But the key to worship is bowing down before the Lord. And so he called on the Lord in terms of prayer and worship. And any unbeliever can do that.

[A]

By the way, you mentioned Cornelius, you know he was calling upon the Lord all the time. He was calling upon the Lord and he was praying. It says, you're on. And the angel appears to him.

[C]

And Lydia was at the place of prayer in Acts 16. She was part of this praying group. And yet she didn't come to faith until Paul led her to faith in Christ.

[A]

Most unbelievers, or at least many unbelievers, call upon the Lord before they're saved. Absolutely, they're seeking Him.

[C]

Absolutely.

[A]

You know, Lord, if you're out there, they're not believers, but they say, reveal yourself to me, show me the truth. Or something like that.

[C]

If you have time, read Hodges commentary on Romans, especially Romans 10, 9, 10 and 13. He argues that calling on the Lord there does not refer just to a one time prayer, but it refers to a person who's part of the worshiping community on a regular basis. Of course, this goes Back to Joel 2:32 Whoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. And that is at the end of the tribulation there will be Jews who are part of the worshiping community and they will be saved because they are part of of the believing worshiping community.

[A]

And in Joel 2 and Romans 10 those are believers. But an unbeliever can call upon the.

[C]

Name of the Lord because they can be part they can either worship or be part of the worshiping community. How many people went to church before they were born again?

[A]

Absolutely. And they called upon Him. So great question. And until next time, keep grace in focus.

[B]

Be sure to check out our daily blogs@facebook faithalone.org they are short and full of great teaching, just like what you've heard today. Find [e-mail] resources blog. We would like to thank all of our financial partners who help us keep this show going. All gifts are tax deductible and very much appreciated. If you'd like to find out how you can be a financial partner, visit us at faithalone. Org on our next episode we'll confessed sins, be judged at the judgment seat of Christ. Please join us again and until then, let's keep grace in focus.

[A]

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