Lesson 420

(Lesson 420)(Romans 4:1-8, "What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin."

Today's lesson contains more vivid assurance that we are saved by faith alone. "Good works" have nothing to do with it.

Herein, Paul explains that it was not Abraham's actions that made him a righteous man, it was his faith in God that justified him, no matter what he had done, even to the point of killing his own son.

This is a very difficult concept for many to comprehend. The confusion, I believe, is caused by the actions taken by the Jewish element of the early Church. They insisted that all new Christian converts retain many elements of the old laws, even in some examples, circumcision. As we will determine in the continuation of these lesson, Paul spent the majority of his ministry trying to pry the Jews away from the law.

Herein, Paul very clearly explains that if one does a certain job for a wage, the wage cannot be a gift (grace), the wage is earned and therefore owed, and not given freely.

Salvation cannot be earned, it is free to all who will accept the grace of God through Christ Jesus. "Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness."
Pay close attention to what Paul says in this last portion of this text, "But to him that worketh NOT, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness." This simply means, just as it did in Abraham's case, faith to those who have accepted the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, is absolute righteousness. Seeing that total righteousness is all that's required to inherit eternal life, those who have faith in the operation of God are the heirs for whom eternity has been prepared.

Notice also, that Paul is talking to the "ungodly" those who are yet in sin, that includes all of us, even the redeemed", he goes on to assure us that we are not simply forgiven, we are JUSTIFIED! Our faith actually makes our wrongs appear as right in the sight of God.~

NOTE: I am not promoting sin with this lesson, there are indeed punishments for the sins we commit against each other in this life. We will learn, as theses lessons progress, that Jesus will be the judge of those who sin against each other, as well as those who are saved and fail His word. 2 Corinthians 5:10, "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad."~