Thank you to Mark for this week’s MWB
“However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness.”
Romans 4:5 NIV
Last week we were looking at two of the most important words in the Bible, “But now…”
We were reflecting on how the Apostle Paul builds a case in the opening chapters of Romans to show us “there is no one righteous, no, not one”
In our helpless state, we hear the wonderful news of the Gospel, “But now, apart from the law, the righteousness of God has been made known…”
How do we receive this righteousness? It is a free gift that God gives to all those who put their faith in Jesus and what He’s done for us on the cross.
As Paul says: “to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness.”
When our window cleaner comes round and does an excellent job in taking away all those dirty marks on the glass, he expects to be paid for it. And rightly so.
Yet the amazing news of the Gospel is that Jesus Christ voluntarily came into the world to bear our sins on the cross, to take our unrighteousness on Himself, and give us the GIFT of His righteousness. We don’t work for it; it is a gift of faith.
Sometimes I’ll start the day by praying to be clothed in the armour of God from Ephesians 6:13. I find it so encouraging to put on “the breastplate of righteousness “ because I know as I start the day there’s a lot of unrighteous stuff that needs to be confessed!
And it’s so wonderful to know that my standing before God doesn’t depend on me but on what God clothes me in: The righteousness of His Son Jesus!
Let’s take a moment to absorb that astounding truth: “However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness.”
Romans 4:5 NIV