SATURDAY June 20, 2020
Accounted as Righteous
Does this blessedness then come upon the circumcised only, or upon the uncircumcised also? For we say that faith was accounted to Abraham for righteousness. How then was it accounted? While he was circumcised, or uncircumcised? Not while circumcised, but while uncircumcised.
Romans 4:9-10
Paul wanted to make sure it was clearly understood that Abraham was justified through faith and not by the Law. He was justified by faith alone. Imagine, at the age of 99 years old, Abraham was circumcised. God came to Abraham and gave him the promise of Isaac (Genesis 17). Abraham believed God by faith. God declared Abraham to be righteous, even before he was circumcised and the promised child, Isaac, was born:
And behold, the word of the LORD came to him [Abraham], saying, “This one [Ishmael] shall not be your heir, but one who will come from your own body shall be your heir.” Then He brought him outside and said, “Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them.” And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be.” And he believed in the LORD, and He accounted it to him for righteousness (Genesis 15:4-6).
The promise of our salvation has come only by faith in Jesus Christ. Jesus came and shed His blood on the Cross for our sins (John 3:16). He is our righteousness! Interestingly, there is a name of God known among God’s people that reflects this truth: “…Now this is His name by which He will be called: THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS (Jeremiah 23:6).
Knowing the LORD is your righteousness, as you come together with your family, do not act self-righteous––doing things by the letter of the Law. Show your family members the love of Christ. Then, when the opportunity arises, share with them about your genuine faith in God.
My hope lives not because I am not a sinner, but because I am a sinner for whom Christ died; my trust is not that I am holy, but that being unholy, HE is my righteousness. My faith rests not upon what I am or shall be or feel or know, but in what Christ is, in what He has done, and in what He is now doing for me.
~C.H. Spurgeon~
For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!