Over the years we’ve all held various jobs, some we like, and some maybe not so much. However, there is always one thing that we like, and that is when payday comes around. We all sure enjoy getting our paycheck. After all, we work hard for our salary. That paycheck is our due for all the work we give our boss. Though bragging is never really right, some people might boast about their paycheck, about how hard they work for what they get, and that they deserve every cent of it. Yet if we get a sum of money that wasn’t for any work we did, then it is not a paycheck. We didn’t do anything to earn it, it is a gift, given because the other person cares about, or even loves us. Our Scripture today speaks about something we can receive, something that we can never work for and earn, but receive as a gift. Let’s look into the Book of Romans to see what God will say to us.
Earlier this week we read from the Book of Genesis about how the Patriarch Abraham believed God, had faith in Him and His promises, and it was counted to him for righteousness, and he received the gift of salvation. The Jewish people in Paul’s day, and both Christians and Jews today, look to Abraham as the father of faith, as someone who is greatly revered in the faith. Paul teaches that since Abraham is someone we look up to with great respect, then we should learn from his example.
One problem that so many people have with regards to their religious or spiritual beliefs is that of believing that it is their good deeds, their acts of charity, and their religious or good works that will get them into heaven. They believe that, at the end of their life, if their good works outweigh anything bad they’ve done, they will get into heaven. So they attend church faithfully, receive Holy Communion, get baptized, give to charitable causes, act kindly to others, teach Sunday School, or lead a boy or girl scout troop, etc. However, Paul told us, as we read in our Scripture, that Abraham was not made righteous because of anything that he did. He was made righteous because of his faith in God, by believing the promises He made.
Scripture makes it very clear that justification is by faith alone, as modeled by Abraham, and not by any works of righteousness. If our works were what justified us, we would be tempted to boast to God (vs. 2). If salvation were on the basis of one’s own effort, God would owe salvation as a debt (vs. 4). We would wrongly feel that we could go up to God and tell Him that He owed us salvation because of all the good things we had done. But we can’t ever do that. Salvation is always a gift of God’s grace. Jesus offers us salvation as a gift because He loves us, not because we have earned it. Faith is believing and trusting in Jesus, and reaching out to accept His gift of salvation, just as Abraham did (vs. 5).
Our spiritual father, Abraham, was justified centuries before God gave the Law to Moses. He could not possibly have obeyed all the points of the Law, as it hadn’t been given then. Some of the Jewish believers in Paul’s day were still intent on keeping the Law, feeling that this went along with salvation. Many Christians today feel that baptism, church attendance, or other acts of charity will help them “earn” heaven. However, as Abraham teaches us, it is faith, and not works, that will justify us. If only those who perfectly keep God’s Law (which is an impossibility) will receive the promise of salvation, then faith has no value (vs. 14).
We don’t have to be part of any specific nationality or race to receive the gift of salvation. As long as we show the same faith that Abraham did, we will be made righteous, like he was centuries ago. We become his spiritual seed, whether we are of Jewish or Gentile heritage (vs. 16-17).
In closing, let us remember that we are saved by faith plus nothing. Not faith plus baptism. Not faith plus good works, or even faith plus love. Salvation comes through faith alone.
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