Mar 21 – Faith-Based Righteousness

“⁴ Now to the one who works, pay is not credited as a gift, but as something owed. ⁵ But to the one who does not work, but believes on him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited for righteousness.”

In the last devotional we discussed how our righteousness does not come from our good works. It cannot, since, as Paul stated in Chapter 3, we are all sinners. Nothing we can do will earn us righteousness. It is at this point that Paul begins revealing the truth that the righteousness of Christians, that is, of believers in Jesus, is not our own, but is inherited from Christ’s perfect life, death, and resurrection. This righteousness that we inherit from Christ is not our own by works but belongs to Jesus and is gifted to us by God in His mercy. If we had worked for our righteousness, then it would be owed to us, like wages paid for a job completed. But God owes us nothing. 

“Now if by grace, then it is not by works; otherwise grace ceases to be grace.”  — Romans 11:6 

What we must do is repent of our sin, confess, “Jesus is Lord”, and believe in His resurrection. What we must do is believe in Jesus who provides salvation and whose righteousness is freely gifted to those who have faith. 

It is important for us to keep a balanced understanding of our Christian responsibilities. In regards to our salvation, we are completely dependent on God and His grace, who softens our hardened hearts and has provided the way for us to be saved through Jesus Christ. It is our responsibility to respond in repentance and faith. Concerning our sanctification, that is, the growth of our faith and Christ-likeness over time, that requires hard work on the part of the Christian. 

“Senseless person! Are you willing to learn that faith without works is useless? Wasn’t Abraham our father justified by works in offering Isaac his son on the altar? You see that faith was active together with his works, and by works, faith was made complete, and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness, and he was called God’s friend. You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.” — James‬ ‭2‬:‭20‬-‭24‬

Yes, it is true that only God can give us the knowledge and ability necessary to grow in our sanctification, but we also have a role to play. How? Reading and studying God’s Word, praying, serving God’s people, spreading the good news of the Gospel, seeking to be discipled and discipling others, and so on. 

Paul, speaking to the Corinthian church, explains that while only God can bring spiritual growth, God’s faithful followers must still put in the work. 

“I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So, then, neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his own reward according to his own labor. For we are God’s coworkers. You are God’s field, God’s building.” — ‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭3‬:‭6‬-‭9‬

Notice, God is responsible for bringing about the desired result: growth. Yet, Christians are declared to be God’s coworkers! There is labor for us to do. We must get out in the field and plant and water. When we are faithful to do this, we will each receive our own reward. When we accomplish the labor God has put before us, we will be displaying our faith and inheriting our righteousness. This section is but a taste of this topic which Paul will communicate more in depth in Chapters 12 and 13 in the weeks to come.