Romans 4:1-8 (NIV)
What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather, discovered in this matter? If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about–but not before God. What does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”
Now when a man works, his wages are not credited to him as a gift, but as an obligation. However, to the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness. David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:
“Blessed are they
whose transgressions are forgiven,
whose sins are covered.
Blessed is the man
whose sin the Lord will never count against him.”
To prove his thesis that salvation and righteousness by faith supports rather than tears down the law, Paul goes to Genesis 15:6, where God tells childless Abraham that He will make his descendants as numerous as the stars. Abraham believed that God would do that, and God credited that belief, that faith in His word, as righteousness on Abraham’s behalf.
Paul’s point is that, at this point, Abraham had done nothing, and had no plans to do anything to orchestrate God’s promise. Later, at the urging of Sarah, he did take steps by receiving Hagar as his concubine and begetting Ishmael (Genesis 16), but that was years in the future, and it only caused problems. Instead, Abraham’s righteousness in God’s sight came as a result not of working toward it, but as a simple matter of faith in God and trust in His word.
Paul also points to David’s words in Psalm 32:1-2 (not a part of the law per se, but a widely respected Scripture), where he points to the blessing of those whose sins have been forgiven, covered by the blood of sacrifice. In this sacrifice, there is no striving, no having to prove oneself by performing acts of contrition. There is simply obedience in bringing the sacrifice prescribed by God, and faith that when the sacrifice is presented, God will accept it and issue forgiveness.
In the same way the righteousness of those in the Christian community comes not as a result of striving and strictness, but through faith in the finished work of Jesus. Jesus is now the prescribed sacrifice to pay for the sins of the whole world. And when a person stands before God’s throne, pleading the blood of Jesus for their sins, they will receive forgiveness and justification, and they will be considered righteous in the sight of God on the basis of what Jesus has done, not on the basis of what they themselves have accomplished.
Father, it is wondrous to me to see how You not only provided sacrifices for sin from the very beginning (Genesis 4:2b-5), but You also used those initial sacrifices to foreshadow the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus for the sins of all. Your plan to help us to find forgiveness, justification and righteousness in Your sight became clearer and clearer over the centuries and millennia, until it was fulfilled on Golgotha. Thank You for making a way, not for those of us who are strong enough to scale the heights to Your throne in our own strength, but for those of us who are simply willing to trust in You and in the sacrifice that You provided in Your love and Your grace. Amen.