THE GIFT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS #12

The gift of righteousness, in which sinners are acquitted, has always been God's way of salvation.

Genesis records: 'Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness'. David wrote: 'Blessed are they whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will never count against him.'

These are amazing statements of the sheer grace of God to those who trust him:

Righteousness ' the declaration 'not guilty' ' credited to them.

• Their transgressions forgiven.
• Their sins covered.
• Their sin never held against them by God.

Abraham was a sinner. David was a sinner. Yet both of these men were assured of their permanent welcome and acceptance in the presence of God. Not because of any works that they had done; not because they had submitted to the right religious rituals; not because they kept the law of God.

Acceptance on the basis of any of these reasons can only be conditional; acceptance on the basis of any of these reasons can only be uncertain; acceptance on the basis of any of these reasons can never be guaranteed ' because our performance and our motivation are always variable and incomplete.

But people who have received Gospel righteousness trust God, not themselves. People who have received Gospel righteousness believe in God's grace, not their own performance. People who have received Gospel righteousness, have received it as God's promise, not as a reward for obedience.

Because of this, because it is by faith, grace and promise, this Gospel righteousness, this justification by faith, is guaranteed to all who believe.

Guaranteed. A strong word. A sure word. A word to generate great peace and assurance.

Let us grasp this word, and allow it to impact every thought of our minds and hearts, so that it floods us with the peace and joy that Jesus came to give to us.

Scriptures: Romans 4:1-16; Genesis 15:6,22; Psalm 32:1,2; Luke 2:10-14.