Paul
the apostle told the Jews in Rome,“For
if Abraham were justified by works, he has whereof
to glory; but not before God.”,
and he added,
“for what says the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was
counted unto him for righteousness.” Paul
continued, “Now
to him that works is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt”,
and in chapter four and verse five of Romans, Paul declares “to
him that works not, but believes....his faith is counted for
righteousness”
where we read:
But
to him that works not, but believes on him that justifies the
ungodly,
The
verse begins, “But to him
that works not, but believes on him that justifies the ungodly, ...”
Paul began with the word, “but”
which is a disassociation conjunction that means what is about to be
written takes precedence over what was just stated “to
him”
or “to the human being whether male or female” “that
works not”
or “who does not labor, trade, exercise, perform, commit or
produce” “but believes”
or “moreover and thinks to be true, is persuaded of, credited and
places confidence” “on
him”
which means “on the human being wether male or female”
“that justifies”
which refers to “who renders righteous or such as he ought to be”
“the ungodly”
or “those destitute of reverential awe towards God, condemning God
and impious”. Paul referred to the person who does not “labor”
and yet “is persuaded” concerning “God's” ability to make
“ungodly” people “righteous”.
The
verse continued, “...
his faith is counted for righteousness”.
Paul
added the words, “his faith”
which means “the human being whether male or female's conviction
that God exists and is the creator and ruler of all things, the
provider and bestower of eternal salvation through Christ” “is
counted”
or “is reckoned, computed, calculated and taken into account”
“for righteousness”
which means “towards and unto the state of him who is as he ought
to be and the condition acceptable to God”. Paul declared when a
person has the “conviction of eternal salvation through Christ”
they are “reckoned and taken into account” for “the state a
person ought to be and acceptable to God”.
When
we think through these words of Paul, we see how people who do not
“labor” and yet “believe” in Jesus Christ as their “Savior
and Lord” are “rendered righteous”. The “faith” of
those who do not “work” is
enough to “justify” them, and God “counts” this
as “righteousness”. This demonstrates the power of Jesus Christ
when a person puts their “faith and trust” in Him. Those who are
“ungodly” and believe in Him shall be saved and be “just as if
they'd” never sinned, and this is the fullness of the “gospel”
or “good news” of God demonstrated at its greatest.
Next
time Paul shares how, “David
also describes the blessedness of the man”,
so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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