Day 11 – Righteous by Faith or Works? – Julie Earl
Romans 4:1-17
There are many people, who once they believe in Jesus for their salvation, feel they have to take over from there. They feel faith in God gets them into God’s family, but that they have to obtain a certain level of holiness in order to stay in God’s family. Romans 4:1-17 addresses this issue, and is rich with examples of the fact that our faith in Jesus makes us righteous – not our works (because none of us will ever be totally perfect).
“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” (Romans 4:4-5).
“David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works…” (Romans 4:6).
Now let’s zero in on Romans 4:13-16:
“It was not through law that Abraham and his offspring received the promise that he would be heir of the world, but through the righteousness that comes by faith. For if those who live by law are heirs, faith has no value and the promise is worthless, because law brings wrath. And where there is no law there is no transgression. Therefore, the promise comes by faith so that it may be by grace….”
If, after being saved by grace through faith in Jesus, we then believe it is our works that will keep us saved, our faith loses its value and God’s promise becomes worthless. We step out of the grace by which we were saved, and place ourselves under the very laws, rules and regulations that Jesus suffered and died to free us from.
Why is it important that we stay free from laws, rules and regulations? Because “law brings wrath [condemnation and punishment]. And where there is no law there is no transgression (v.15).” The King James says, “Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression. The New Living Translation words it even more clearly: “For the law always brings punishment on those who try to obey it. (The only way to avoid breaking the law is to have no law to break!)”
I love that wording. “The only way to avoid breaking the law is to have no law to break.” Jesus freed us from the law so that we would have no law to break. You may think that sounds crazy, and it does! Paul knew it sounded crazy: “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (1 Corinthians 1:18). Before Jesus came, God had to use the law to protect His people as best He could from the consequences of sin, but once Jesus came, He freed us from the law. Now His laws are written on our hearts (see Romans 2:15) flowing out of a love relationship with Jesus that is fueled by the presence and power of God.
As I say all the time, we can’t overcome our sin by focusing on our sin or by setting up laws to restrict ourselves. We overcome sin by intimacy with Jesus. Jesus said, “Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me” (John 15:4). You have been made righteous through Jesus’ forgiveness, and holiness (fruit) will come as you fix your eyes on Jesus and simply fall in love with Him. When you’re in love, you can’t help but want to please the one you love!
Praise: I had the privilege of praying with a young man last night to receive the inheritance Jesus paid to give him – salvation through faith by God’s grace and mercy. He, too, had been struggling with not feeling worthy of being saved, and I was given the honor of reminding him that nothing we do can make us worthy. It is only the blood of Jesus that makes us worthy and righteous, and gives us right standing and peace with God!
Note: For those who are reading through Romans with me and spending three days in each chapter, I typically write one insight per day, but chapter 4 is so rich that I will only write two insights with the hope that you’ll spend extra time absorbing the truth into your spirit that you are the righteousness of God in Christ. As I mention in the last chapter of my book No More No, knowing who you in Christ is what it takes to power up our super suits to do mighty things for God! 🙂
Many blessings mighty men and women of God!
Julie Earl with Crazy About You Ministries (CAYM)
All Scripture is from the New International Version unless otherwise noted.