Justification by faith

READ: Job 21,22; Psalms 42; Romans 4

SCRIPTURE: Romans 4: 23 The words “it was credited to him” were written not for him alone,
24 but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness—for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.
25 He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.

OBSERVATION: Romans chapter 4 is Paul’s commentary to Gen.15:6, in which he explains Abraham was not justified by his works or by law but by faith.   “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”  Abraham became the father of all who believes in God—the father of faithful ones. We are called to follow the footsteps of the faith of Abraham. Romans 4:18-22 explains how Abraham believed when there was no hope for him and why God considered Abraham’s faith unique. Abraham was weak, but he was not weak in faith. Abraham’s faith was not blind faith; it was built upon his belief in God’s power to do what he promised. As John Stott says, “Faith is a reasoning trust. There can be no believing without thinking.” From verse 23 onwards, Paul writes Abraham’s experience was written for all, like the rest of the scripture.  We are called to follow the faith example of Abraham.  When we believe in God that he raised Jesus from the dead, God will credit righteousness to us, like he justified Abraham for his faith.

Nowadays, people preach and emphasize different types of faith. Some Christians think faith is the key to material blessings. Some people believe in Jesus Christ, but they do not believe in Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection. Here in verse 25, we see what we need to believe about Jesus—Jesus died for our sins, God raised him from the dead for our justification. We have an abundance of evidence to support Jesus’ resurrection. So we cannot say any excuses. Believing in Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection is not irrational. Our faith in Jesus Christ is not built on fables. Above all, our faith in God benefits us. We are justified by our faith in Jesus Christ.

APPLICATION: Abraham believed God against all hope. God has given me the Bible to read and believe his words. I have no reason to doubt God. He sees my faith. I believe Jesus died on the cross for my sins and “was raised to life” for my justification.

PRAYER: Father God, thank you for your grace to save us through the righteousness that comes by faith. Holy Spirit, thank you for clarifying all my doubts related to Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection. Help me to proclaim my faith in the risen Lord Jesus Christ, every day and everywhere. Amen.

- Arputharaj Samuel
+91 9538328573

Day - 224