PROCLAMATION
“This is why ‘it was credited to him as
righteousness.’ The words ‘it was credited to him’ were written not for
him alone, but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness, for us who
believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. He was delivered
over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.”
Romans 4:22-25 (NIV)
EXPLANATION
These words were written under the influence
of The Holy Spirit of God by the Apostle Paul in his letter to the believers
in Rome. Here Paul was telling them about Abraham, the father of the
faithful. He reminded them that the scripture says that Abraham believed
that God would keep His promise and because of his faith in God he was credited
with righteousness. (Romans 4:18-25) Paul told them that all of the people
who had faith in God would also be credited with righteousness and their sins
would be forgiven just as King David had said. (Romans 4:6-8 and Psalm 32:1-2)
APPLICATION
Because of our sinful human nature, alone at
our best our “righteousness” is but as filthy rags in His sight. (Isaiah
64:6) It is by the grace of God that we are saved, it is His gift to us,
and we did not do anything to earn it. (Ephesians 2:8-9) If we believe
and have faith in God, then we too will be credited with righteousness.
Our faith will be tested, but if we hold on to our belief we will be
rewarded. The testing of our faith leads to the development of perseverance,
which helps us mature as Christians. (James 1:2-4) Because Christ died
for our sins, as believers we can live and be credited with righteousness.
(Romans 4:25 and 1 Peter 2:24)
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