3 For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.”
Romans 4:3-8, ESV
4 Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due.
5 And to the one who does not work but believes in[a] him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness,
6 just as David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works:
7 “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered;
8 blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin.”
Justification by works is a very old problem that unfortunately didn’t stay in the past. Paul speaks of it often and directly. It was a black-and-white issue for him and should be the same for us today.
But for the ones who get it, those who have been gifted faith from God, He counts righteousness to them apart from works. And the cherry on top, Paul (and David), call them blessed.
The whole idea of blessing caused me to stop this week. This passage clearly describes being blessed in direct correlation of:
- Lawless deeds being forgiven
- Sins being covered
- The Lord not counting their sin
The question I asked myself was, when I talk about being blessed, what percentage of the time relates to any of these three points? I think it’s wonderful to be thankful and give God credit for the things in my life. But wow, what a reduction in magnitude when I limit “blessing” to a new job position, talents /skills, or opportunities. Good things? Yes. Blessings? Perhaps. But I must never lose sight of the GREATEST of all the blessings!
Faith, forgiveness, salvation, justification, and righteousness are all things that I cannot will into existence. They must be given by God. There is nothing I can do or say to convince God to bless me. He’s God, with or without me. But oh, how very blessed I am to be called a child of His. Thank you, Lord, for these gifts!