In keeping with finding out what Romans has to say, here is the question of the day. Is your employer giving you a gift when you get the paycheck that you earned, or is it a debt that your employer owes? Duh! I think that all of us would agree that it is a debt. When we are faithful to do our work, then our employer owes us the previously agreed upon sum for that work. Right? Well, good news, Romans 4 agrees. The cool thing is that the Kingdom of God does not operate on the principles of the world. The Kingdom is based on a debt that was paid before anyone reading this was able to 'do' anything. In fact, Romans 4 explains that even though the standard of debt/work was mediated by the law during Abraham's lifetime, Abraham was already getting credit for a paid off debt that had yet to physically occur. Isn't God cool? Jesus paid our debt in full in His submission to death on the cross, but that was not the end of the story!!
Even though God has laws and man has laws, the thing that God really pays attention to is faith...our hearts. Romans 4 (NIV) says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness." He did not get credit for what his body did or did not do. It was all about that heart. O.k., yes, I know that Abraham was the one who fathered a child with his very, very, post menopausal wife. He also watched as God provided a ram in the thicket so that he would not have to sacrifice his child, but he was just a man. He was a documented liar, and I am fairly certain that he did have some doubt about how God would make him fruitful in his old age. However, he ultimately believed. He knew that God was his source, and he chose to believe.
I don't know about you, but for me it is sometimes difficult to separate the truth of the Kingdom of God from the experience of the world. I mean, we are living in the world and receiving input from the world nearly constantly. We know how people judge one another, and it seems natural for us to judge ourselves with the same standards. We find ourselves thinking, "What will happen when they find out about my past?...or...that I am not qualified to do this. What will happen when they find out I am not perfect...or not as smart as they think...or that I am still struggling with this sin or that sin"...or...whatever else that we believe disqualifies us from something that we think is important?
The fact is, if you are thinking like this, it probably means that you are a person of character. God knows your heart. He trusts you, and He has promoted you because you take Him seriously. The good news is that as we place our faith in God, as we allow His spirit to move and influence us, all of the past is covered over and separated from our existence. Yes, we sometimes still have to deal with the consequences, but God no longer associates the past with who we are today. Shouldn't we do the same for each other?
Ok...so read this phrase really fast and out loud, "Just as if I'd." When you read it very quickly, what word does it sound like? I heard this decades ago, and I am almost positive that someone else should get credit for it. However, I honestly do not know to whom credit is due. Anyway...it sounds like the word, justified. The word, justified, in the Bible literally means to make the situation, "just as if I'd never sinned." David wrote in Psalms, and his words are quoted in Romans 4:5-8: "Blessed are those whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord will never count against them." David knew this phenomena well, because he had committed all of the biggies. Yet, God had his heart. As soon as David realized what he had done he owned his sin, repented, and he knew that it was "just as if he'd never done it."
So, who are we going to believe today? Is God worthy of our faith? What have you got to lose? God is the One who does the justification. He reveals truth. He promotes those who trust Him. Our only part in this is to take Him at His Word. We owe nothing, but to love like God loves.
It is well!
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