Righteousness
Apart From Works
What
then are we to say was gained by Abraham, our ancestor according to the flesh? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast
about, but not before God. For what does the scripture say?
"Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness."
Now to one who works, wages are not reckoned as a gift but as something due.
But to one who without works trusts him who justifies the ungodly, such faith
is reckoned as righteousness. So also David speaks of the blessedness of those
to whom God reckons righteousness apart from works: "Blessed are those
whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; blessed is the one
against whom the Lord will not reckon sin."
Is this
blessedness, then, pronounced only on the circumcised, or also on the uncircumcised? We say, "Faith was reckoned to Abraham
as righteousness." How then was it
reckoned to him? Was it before or after he had been circumcised? It was not
after, but before he was circumcised. He received the sign of circumcision as a
seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still
uncircumcised. The purpose was to make him the ancestor of all who believe
without being circumcised and who thus have righteousness reckoned to them, and
likewise the ancestor of the circumcised who are not only circumcised but who
also follow the example of the faith that our ancestor Abraham had before he
was circumcised.
Romans 4:1-12
All
around us, life is changing at a fast pace. Even in the church, change is
happening so fast it can be tough to keep up. Some churches no longer have
pews, and no hymnbooks, but instead, comfortable seating with words of praise
songs projected onto walls or screens.
Christians
have also recognized the need to change their methods of reaching out to
non-Christians with the gospel of Jesus. Churches use sports leagues to reach
out, and they open up food pantries. They also hold special group meetings for
people dealing with grief or addictions
Remember
one thing. Works have nothing to do with obtaining or retaining our salvation.
Modes
and methods of worship may change. But salvation is through faith in Jesus
alone. That will never change - ever.
In a world of constant change, you can trust God's
unchanging Word.
Our Daily Bread -