Now to the one who works, wages are not credited as a gift but as an obligation.
However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness.
David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the one to whom God credits righteousness apart from works: “Blessed are those whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord will never count against them.” Rom. 4:4-8
Heavenly Father, on this last Friday in September 2019, there’s nothing we need more than to blast out hearts with the copious riches of the gospel. So here we go.
These 5 verses contradict everything we assume about the way life is “supposed to work”. We expect to get what’s coming to us. We demand fairness—an honest return for our labor, time, and sweat. Thankfully, the gospel flies in the face of conventionality, predictability, and normalcy.
Instead of being merely “fair” with us, you are outrageously generous, immeasurably kind, and scandalously good. What we could never earn—your perfect righteousness, you’ve credited to us as a gift.
What we fully deserve—to be dealt with according to the wages of our sin, you’ll never do. What we cannot imagine—that you’d justify ungodly people (like us), you’ve done—legally, righteously, and joyfully.
Because of Jesus’ once-and-for-all finished work, our sins are once-and-for-all fully forgiven. King David called such people “Blessed“; we call them (us) immeasurably rich and bodaciously beloved.
Thank you for reconciling us to yourself through Jesus, and for placing us in your now-and-forever favor. Thank you for, not only removing all condemnation for our sins, but for replacing deserved judgment with exuberant jubilation.
Thank you for not just welcoming us, but for wanting us; not just being “okay” with us, but “smitten” with us. By the power of the Holy Spirit, drive the gospel—this gospel, deeper and deeper into our hearts. So very Amen we pray, in Jesus’ trustworthy and triumphant name.