RIGHTEOUSNESS IS NOT EARNED

PROCLAMATION

“And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.  Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him;  But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on Him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;  Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.”  Romans 4:22-25 (KJV)

 

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.  In this chapter 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 4:1-3 and 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)  Paul goes on to talk about Abraham as the father of circumcision stating that he received circumcision as a sign, a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. (Romans 4:9-12)  

 

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)