To the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness. (Romans 4:5)
Seems like a strange statement having grown up in a culture that says if you want anything in this life, you have to “earn it!” Well, there is a work that doesn’t work and knowing that truth brings with it a deep peace that can be found in no other way.
The work I am speaking about is the work of salvation. Today, in the church of Jesus Christ, there are millions who are trying to work themselves into God’s favor. They believe God is keeping score in their lives and the ultimate goal is to have more points under the heading of “good” than “bad.” They have sat under the preaching of a false gospel that says salvation comes to those who “earn it” by the spiritual sweat of their own brow.
Listen, in this life, we do indeed need to work for what we get. You work a job and you get paid. You exercise and you get fit. You invest in a relationship and it grows. But when it comes to eternal life, there is no amount of work that can gain anything. When Jesus hung on the cross and said, “It is finished!” He meant what He said. To be sure, we are saved by works, but not our works. It was the cross work of Christ, His sinless life, His sacrificial death, and His supernatural resurrection that has earned for us the pathway to Paradise.
Paul tells us in our verse today that God the Father credits to us the righteousness of God the Son. This is not a righteousness we possess. Rather, it is a righteousness that is alien and must be given to us from above. On the cross our sin was imputed to Jesus and His righteousness was imputed to all those who trust in Him.
So, the question is this: in what are you trusting? Do you believe you were saved by grace but need to stay in that grace by your good works? Remember, the Scriptures tell us that He who began this good work, will complete it Himself. What God began in you He will finish. Instead of trying to work yourself into God’s favor, simply rest in your redemption and you will experience that peace that passes all understanding, now and forever more.
This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!
Grace for the Race 