Embracing the Blessing

Altar in the rotunda of the Pantheon, Rome. 

Scripture:

Rom. 4:1    What then are we to say was gained by Abraham, our ancestor 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 reckoned to him as righteousness.” ⁴ Now to one who works, wages are not reckoned as a gift but as something due. ⁵ But to one who without works trusts him who justifies the ungodly, such faith is reckoned as righteousness. ⁶ So also David speaks of the blessedness of those to whom God reckons righteousness apart from works:

⁷ “Blessed are those whose iniquities are forgiven,

and whose sins are covered;

⁸ blessed is the one against whom the Lord will not reckon sin.”

Observation:

Paul realized that there were still people who were unconvinced by his argument of faith vs. works. The Jews considered Abraham an incredible example of one who lived out his faith by works — for he even offered to sacrifice his son. But even in that moment, Abraham was exhibiting is own faith that with God all things are possible. Therefore, even father Abraham had nothing to boast about. Abraham, too, was justified by faith. (Chysostom, Homily 8). 

The reference to the worker and the wages is interesting. When someone is employed, they receive their wage in return for the work that is performed. This is a contractual relationship that requires both ends to complete the required work. What’s fascinating about God’s grace and justification is that it is offered without required work. This is not a worker - employer relationship, but this is a loving Father who is lavishing grace upon those who are not deserving. 

Moo tells us:

They [the Roman Christians, both Jew and Gentile] knew the reality of sin; and they knew the reality of a holy God who could not tolerate sin. Only through the sacrifice of Christ, paying the debt incurred by our sin that we could never pay, could God make a way of accepting people who are by nature unacceptable to him. Those people in our day who ignore or minimize the problem of human sin in the face of a holy God do well to heed the warning of the great medieval theologian Anselm: “You have not yet considered the weight of sin.” (Moo, ZIBBCNT)

There is a great weight of sin that is all-consuming, and this must be considered. Without considering sin, we have no reason to live into faith. Living into faith means that our “iniquities are forgiven.” Just imagine that our sins will not be reckoned against us, if we embrace the blessing by faith. 

Application:

Conversations about sin are pretty unpopular. Even if people believe that sin exists, many people appear have their own definition. Before we can embrace the blessing that the Lord wants to provide for us, we must come to grips with the reality of sin. Evil does exist in our world, and we are tempted to step into sin and allow our selfish desires to lead us in a particular direction. When we begin aiming at the wrong target for our lives, we end up on a trajectory that takes us far from the Lord, and justifying sin. It happens quickly and easily. 

Shooting at a new target happens so easily, and sometimes we don't even realize what is happening. That promotion at work begins to look very appealing, and it will take us to a new place in life. We might be able to move to a new community and have a larger home with many amenities which our children “really need” to enjoy life. Sure, there’s no church close-by, and there’s no youth group, children’s ministry or Christian community to provide a network of spiritual support for the family, but it’s a great neighborhood. We convince ourselves that we will drive to our church every Sunday, even thought it’s quite a distance, but eventually, it just becomes too difficult. The family would enjoy sleeping in on Sundays and church is too far away for the children to get involved in any activities. However, we are making really good money and so we plan extravagant vacations with the children. Along the way we begin to add in some social drinking because that’s what everyone in the community is doing. There are book clubs and game nights to enjoy, all accompanied by a large stash of alcohol. As the evenings wear on the conversations become a bit looser and the simple flirtations begin leading toward another target. And on it goes as the original target of knowing Christ becomes a distant reality. 

Many of these people will say they are “Christians” — but in many ways they are no longer embracing the “blessing.” Defining sin has become a real challenge and there is little gratitude for the grace of the cross. Instead, without knowing it, a works faith has developed; one that involves boasting in the few humanitarian projects that are supported financially, or the occasional day of volunteering. 

What Paul is talking about here is serious business, and I think it’s time for us to get back to the serious business of following Christ. There is no boasting in our “success” or the things of this world that we may embrace. We were never promised a prosperity gospel. Instead, we are to embrace the blessing that we receive through Christ. This is why Paul would eventually say “May I never boast of anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world” (Gal. 3:14, NRSV). Truly embracing the blessing will cost us everything, but will give us more than we could ever imagine in return. 

Prayer:

Lord, I want to join Paul in boasting in you alone. That’s not always easy, so please, help me to embrace your blessing and keep my eyes on the target — you! Amen.