Justified by Faith

1 What shall we say was gained by Abraham, our forefather, according to the flesh? 2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. 3 For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.” 4 Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. 5 And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness, 6 just as David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works: 7“Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered;8blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin.”

O, God, You alone can count our work as righteous if it’s done to please and do Your will. We are not hoping to work our salvation by boasting in our own accomplishments of work salvation. It’s by faith alone that was given to us as a gift by the Spirit. O Jesus, you’re the justifier of our souls, speaking on our behalf to the Father who heard and cared for us. Count our faith as righteous as you did with Abraham when he believed in God. Spirit, our hearts rejoiced, knowing our sins are covered by the blood of Jesus Christ. Teach us how to live in the flesh by faith in the Son of God, who loved and gave Himself for us (Galatians 2:20).

Blessed is the Man/Woman

9 Is this blessing then only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? For we say that faith was counted to Abraham as righteousness. 10 How then was it counted to him? Was it before or after he had been circumcised? It was not after, but before he was circumcised. 11 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 Father of all who believe without being circumcised so that righteousness would be counted to them as well, 12 and to make him the Father of the circumcised who are not merely circumcised but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our Father Abraham had before he was circumcised.

This precious gift of faith is passed down from generation to generation, showing us that God’s grace is alive and active. All the nations have the heart of Christ and of His redemptive hope of salvation for everyone. Knowing we are His and Jesus Christ is mine forever is a blessing. Let us abide in Him so that our lives increase and grow in the knowledge and wisdom of the truth.

Let our righteous faith come from God and not from ourselves. For we’re sealed as believers into the seal of righteousness that comes from Jesus Christ. Spirit, let our faith grow firmer while we await your return.

Heir of the World

13For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith. 14 For if it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null, and the promise is void. 15 For the law brings wrath, but where there is no law, there is no transgression.16 That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his offspring—not only to the adherent of the law but also to the one who shares the faith of Abraham, who is the Father of us all, 17as it is written, “I have made you the father of many nations”—in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist. 18 hope, he believed against hope that he should become the Father of many nations, as he had been told, “So shall your offspring be.” 19 He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead (since he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah’s womb. 20 No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, 21fully convinced that God could do what he had promised. 22 That is why his faith was “counted to him as righteousness.” 23 But the words “it was counted to him” were not written for his sake alone, 24but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, 25who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.

God, you’ve promised us to be heirs of the world, receiving through the righteousness of faith. O Father, forgive us if we’ve doubted Your promises. A beautiful promise of grace and guaranteed to all your saints.

Our loving Creator who gives “life to the dead and calls into existence the things that don’t exist.” You’re Powerful and have authority over all creation. Your authorities ruled over all nations, rulers, kings and people. You’ve been able to live and gave us hope of redemption in your Son, Jesus Christ. Let our lips glorify You. Thank you for your deliverance from our darkness, bringing us into your marvellous light. Our justification is completed in Christ, who loved and gave Himself for us.

Let’s Go Pray!

Resources

• Esv Romans 4: https://www.biblehub.com/esv/romans/4.htm