May 4
“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 accounted to him for righteousness.’ Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt. But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness, just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works: ‘Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; blessed is the man to whom the Lord shall not impute sin,’” Romans 4:2-8.
The doctrine of justification is the central teaching of the Christian Church. The church fathers have said that this is the teaching on which the Church stands and falls. The apostle Paul pursues the discussion on the doctrine of justification in chapter four of his Epistle, as he writes about the justification of Abraham. He says, “If Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God.” If people would be justified by their works, then they would have something to brag about. Heaven would be filled with a bunch of braggarts! If that were the case, who would want to spend an eternity in heaven?
If we went to heaven on the basis of our works, then God would be indebted to us and obligated to pay us for our good works. However, Scripture says that we are saved by grace: “By grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast,” Ephesians 2:9. Grace and works are exclusive expressions. Paul writes, “If by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work,” Romans 11:6.
By His grace, God justifies the ungodly. “Christ died for the ungodly . . . God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us,” Romans 5:6, 8. “God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation . . . (God) made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him,” 2 Corinthians 5:19, 21. Jesus did not die to save perfect people. He died to save sinners, such as you and I and all others! By faith we make Jesus’ righteousness our very own.
We are declared righteous and forgiven, as Paul quotes the psalmist: “David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works: ‘Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; blessed is the man to whom the Lord shall not impute sin.’” Our sins are not counted against us. Jesus’ blood and righteousness have cleansed us, and we are invited to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and we are promised that we will be saved. We are saved by believing in what Jesus did for us, not by what we do for ourselves. Jesus suffered, died, and rose again to save us from sin, death, and the power of the devil. Faith is the hand that reaches out and takes God at His word.
“By grace I’m saved, grace free and boundless;
My soul, believe, and doubt it not.
Why stagger at this word of promise?
Hath Scripture ever falsehood taught?
Nay; then, this word must true remain:
By grace thou, too, shalt heav’n obtain.
By grace, God’s Son, our only Savior,
Came down to earth to bear our sin.
Was it because of thine own merit,
That Jesus died, thy soul to win?
Nay; it was grace, and grace alone,
That bro’t Him from His heav’nly throne.” Amen.