Abraham and David Justified by Faith

IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

Abraham and David Justified by Faith

Date: Feb. 28, 2023

Passage

Romans 4:1-8 (ESV)

1 What then shall we say was gained by Abraham, our forefather 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 counted to him as righteousness.” 4 Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. 5 And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness, 6 just as David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works:

7   “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven,
    and whose sins are covered;
8   blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin.”

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Daily Bread

Key Verse: 4:5

And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness,

By all accounts, Abraham was a great man. He was faithful and obedient to God, generous with his nephew and even visiting strangers, and he was a great general who achieved victory over King Kedorlaomer and rescued Lot and others. If anyone in Israel’s history could be justified by his own works, it would be Abraham. And if so, he would have a right to boast. But we are not justified by our own works. “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” Abraham knew that righteousness comes when we believe the LORD, who sent Jesus Christ. So, Abraham learned that it is those who trust in the LORD that are made righteous, and not by good works.

Next, we see that King David learned the same thing. David was also a great man in Israel’s history. David discovered the blessing of the forgiveness of sins, not by doing good works, but through recognizing our sin before God and confessing it. He, too, found that we are made righteous by faith, not by works.

Prayer: Prayer: Father, thank you for your righteousness. Thank you that we don’t need to earn our own righteousness, but that you give it to us freely, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

One Word: One Word: God justifies the one who has faith in Jesus

Like Seeing the Face of God

Genesis 33:1-20

Key Verse: 33:11

Please accept my blessing that is brought to you, because God has dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough.” Thus he urged him, and he took it.

Today's Question

What does the ninth commandment forbid?

See answer and references