Verse of the Day 8/3

Through the Bible -

 

Good morning,

In Jesus' day there were many who that that they were righteous, in right standing with God.  Some thought this because of their heritage while others thought that they were because they adhered to the Jewish laws and traditions (or at least thought they did).  In today's verse Paul tells his listeners just who would be considered "righteous", who it is that is in right standing before God.  If we think that we are or are being "righteous" on our own we, as Martyn Lloyd-Jones put it "manufacture a god for ourselves".  We set the standard.

 

For today's verse we'll return to the book of Romans, this time chapter 4.

Rom 4:5 But people are counted as righteous, not because of their work, but because of their faith in God who forgives sinners.   NLT
or from theNKJV

Rom 4:5 But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness, 6 just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works:   NKJV

This was one of the first verses that I remember memorizing when I was about 9 or 10 years old in AWANA clubs.  It was from the King James Version.  Even though I'm sure it was explained to me, I don't think I fully realized just what it meant.  The NLT puts it in terms that are a little easier to understand.

 

When we here the word righteous many today would give it a negative connotation, ascribing it to someone who has a "holier than thou" attitude.  In reality it couldn't be further from the truth.  This verse points out  that it is not from something that we have done (our works) but it is God's mercy and His gift of faith that put's us in "right standing" before God.

 

In his book "God the Holy Spirit", Lloyd - Jones gives us an explanation of "righteousness" , "God looks at men and women in their sins, and, applying to them the righteousness of Christ, declares them to be just.  That is imputed righteousness.  But in sanctification. we are discussing imputed righteousness.  Not the righteousness that is put to my account, but the righteousness that is created within me and produced within me."

 

Ps 51:10  God, make a fresh start in me,
shape a Genesis week from the chaos of my life.
(from THE MESSAGE)

This goes back to the power we spoke of last week.  We can also consider it as grace, God's enabling power to live for Him.

 

We don't hear much of these terms today, but they should be helpful reminders to us of how we can live "in His glory and grace".  The just shall live by faith.

 

Through faith in Christ we have forgiveness which puts us in right standing.  Through the Holy Spirit living in us we have the power of Christ in us to live as we ought to live.

 

Phil 1:6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.    NIV

 

In Christ,
Mike
mikevw@bellsouth.net
http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com
Eph 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace  NIV

Rom 4:1-9

 

4 What then shall we say that Abraham our father has found according to the flesh?  2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. 3 For what does the Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness."  4 Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt.

 

David Celebrates the Same Truth

 

5 But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness, 6 just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works:

 

7 "Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven,
And whose sins are covered;
8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord shall not impute sin."    NKJV