Justified By Faith

July 7

I Chronicles 16-17

Psalm 78:40-55

Proverbs 17:12-13

Romans 4

Justified by Faith

“He believed, hoping against hope, so that he became the father of many nations according to what had been spoken: So, will your descendants be.  He considered His own body to be already dead (since he was about 100 years old) and also considered the deadness of Sarah’s womb, without weakening in the faith.  He did not waver in unbelief at God’s promise but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, because he was fully convinced that what He had promised He was fully able to perform.  Therefore, it was credited to him as righteousness.  Now it was credited to him was not written for Abraham alone, but also for us.  It will be credited to us who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.  He was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.”  Romans 4:18-24 HCSB

Romans 4 is the proof that faith has always been the means for justification.  Paul uses Old Testament patriarchs to establish the fact that faith and not works is the means to salvation.  The whole world was blessed through Abraham because he chose to believe God rather than looking at his circumstances.  It would have been easy for Abraham to laugh at the idea that God could give him descendants more numerous than the stars when he was childless at the age of 100.  His ability to father children and Sarah’s ability to conceive had long passed.  It must have seemed impossible and yet Abraham believed God.  He chose to trust in God instead of trusting in his own reasoning and knowledge.  Justification is a legal term with a meaning similar to acquittal.  In religious terms, it points to the process whereby a person is declared to be right with God. 

Since Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection, that justification takes place by faith in Jesus.  In the Old Testament, God imputed righteousness to individuals based on their faith.  Hebrews 11 recounts the faith of the Old Testament saints.  We are not told that they were justified by their mighty works or their great accomplishments for God.  Moses was not praised for leading the children of Israel out of Egypt.  He was praised for his faith in trusting God and obeying Him.  We are told that Rahab, Samson, David, Enoch, Samuel, and the prophets by faith were able to carry out God’s purposes.  They did not do great things for God and then God imputed righteousness to them because of their actions.  Their righteousness was based completely on their faith.  God was able to accomplish great things in and through them because they trusted in Him.  In the same way, God does not need us to do great things for Him.  He doesn’t credit righteousness to us based on our abilities and deeds.  What He desires is for us to completely trust Him to work in and through us.  Our best efforts are worth nothing, but our total surrender allows Him to accomplish more than we can even imagine.