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 Sunday in September 2018, there’s nothing we need more than to blast out hearts with the glory of the gospel—especially in light of the Senate proceedings in Washington, D. C. So here we go.
This portion of the Bible contradicts 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. But the gospel flies in the face of conventionality, predictability, and normalcy. Hallelujah!
Thank you for not being “fair” with us. Thank you for being 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 so. 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 forgiven, never to be remembered against us. King David called such people “Blessed”; we call them (us) immeasurably rich and eternally 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. It’s the only gospel that will free us to live and love to your glory. May our grateful joy be equaled by our obedient love. So very Amen we pray, in Jesus’ trustworthy and triumphant name.
