Romans 4:1-8 – Our Faith is Credited as Righteousness

We need to know our identity in Christ so we can walk free – in righteousness.

What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, discovered in this matter? 2 If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about—but not before God. 3 What does Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”

4 Now to the one who works, wages are not credited as a gift but as an obligation. 5 However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness. 6 David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the one to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:

7 “Blessed are those
whose transgressions are forgiven,
whose sins are covered.
8 Blessed is the one
whose sin the Lord will never count against them.”

Romans 4:1-8

Justified – declared innocent or guiltless; absolved; acquitted.

This is the definition of “Justified.”  We are justified and we are:

• declared innocent,
• guiltless,
• absolved,
• acquitted.

Not because of ourselves but because of Jesus.

At the end of the end of the last lesson, we read that we are justified by faith apart from observing the law (Romans 3:28).  The law could not make us right with God.  What the law could not do, Jesus Christ stepped in and accomplished for each of us.  He was our substitute on the cross taking our place and our punishment.

Picture this:  you and I were supposed to be on the cross but Jesus stepped in and said He would take our place.  He didn’t have to do that. He wasn’t guilty of any sin. But He took our sin on Himself because of His great love for us. So we are standing in His shoes and He is standing in our shoes. We are now the sinless ones because we are in Him.

We do not have to work for our salvation. In fact, we cannot work for our salvation.

I keep saying it but it is so very important that we get this:  FAITH + NOTHING = SALVATION.  That’s it. Not Faith + Works. Not Faith + Anything.  It is Faith + NOTHING.

In the verses in Romans 4, Paul brings us back to Abraham.  Abraham did not work for God to call him righteous.  What did he do?  He simply believed in God. God spoke to Abraham and told him to pick up and move to an unknown place. Abraham said okay. He didn’t question God. He simply obeyed.

The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.

2 “I will make you into a great nation,
and I will bless you;
I will make your name great,
and you will be a blessing.
3 I will bless those who bless you,
and whoever curses you I will curse;
and all peoples on earth
will be blessed through you.”

So Abram went, as the Lord had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Harran.

Genesis 12:1-4

So Abram (later named Abraham) went as the Lord told him.

No questions asked. He simply obeyed God.  This is why Abraham is the our father of faith and why Paul said that it was credited to him as righteousness.

Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.

Genesis 15:6

And when we believe in Jesus Christ, we too, by faith, have it credited to us as righteousness too.

We are righteous simply because of our belief.  Our sins are forgiven and will not be counted against us!! In Galatians, Paul goes on to tell us that because of our belief, we are children of Abraham. We are entitled to the blessings that God gave to Abraham!

6 So also Abraham “believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”

7 Understand, then, that those who have faith are children of Abraham. 8 Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you.” 9 So those who rely on faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.

10 For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse, as it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.” 11 Clearly no one who relies on the law is justified before God, because “the righteous will live by faith.”

Galatians 3:6-11

Let’s let go of the law and, through our faith, know that we are righteous and justified. Let go of your guilt and baggage. Christ took it all at the cross so that we do not have to drag it around with us.  God is that good!!

We need to stop putting limits on the One who is limitless.

Stay in the Light and the Love Always,

Eva