Why is faith essential for receiving God's promises?

Faith serves as the means by which believers appropriate the promises of God. In Genesis 15, Abram's faith in God's declarations led him to receive the assurance of his inheritance. Likewise, believers today look to Christ, who embodies the fulfillment of all promises. The covenant established by God calls for trust on the part of His people, as they are justified by faith rather than by works. This principle, rooted in scriptures like Romans 4, echoes through the New Testament, reaffirming that it is by grace through faith that we participate in God's promises, ensuring our eternal hope.