Romans 4 takes a deep dive into justification by faith. Our salvation is not something we can boast about, it’s not something that we earned. It’s a contrast to the logical nature of earning what we deserve. At the end of the pay period, we expect payment from our employer – we have earned it. But, God freely forgives us and offers us eternal relationship when we lay all of ourselves down at His feet. Paul confirms that Abraham believed God’s promises, he had this faith even before circumcision. God’s covenant with Abraham did not come through the law, it came directly from the grace of God. When we believe that God is the One that raised Jesus from the dead, the faith we have is credited just as it was to Abraham when he believed God would make him the father of many nations. In faith, we are descendants of Abraham. Do you realize that as you continue to read about the lineage of Abraham, you’re actually reading about your spiritual lineage? This directly applies to you! The divine blessing of adoption into the family of God means that we’re written into the story, descendants of the father of nations. What beautiful family legacy we’ve obtained in our justification. God allowed Jesus to be handed over to death, so that He could mightily display his ultimate power of death. We accept that. We believe that. Our faith in the God who raised Jesus from the dead allows us to be justified and enter eternal relationship with the creator of the universe. God doesn’t give us what we earn or what we deserve. For that, I am so glad.
