“Saved By Grace…!”

“Saved By Grace…!”(Rom.4:1-5).
The Apocryphal book, “Sirach” or “Ecclesiasticus” says Abraham, “the great ancestor of many nations” had a faultless reputation. “He kept the Law of the Most High and made a Covenant with him…When he was tested, he was found faithful. And so the Lord made a solemn promise that his descendants would be a blessing to the world…”(Sir.44:19-21). Based on these verses, many of Jesus’ and Paul’s Jewish contemporaries held that “Abraham was justified by works.” But Paul – if he is the writer of Romans – challenges this by Genesis which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness”(Gen.15:6).
From the call of Abraham, God already told him, “I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you…and all the peoples of the earth will be blessed through you”(Gen.12:1-4). Abraham’s works(obedience) came after the promise of blessings and not before. God’s Grace through Christ finds us where we are and takes us as we are. But when God in Christ takes us as we are, he does not leave us to be the way we are. God takes us as we are to make us what we ought to become. Believing in the Son of God is the only way of salvation. But once in the Son we must do the works that merit those who have known the Son and who are called by his Name.
We cannot set aside the grace of God, “for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing”(Gal.2:21).
The labourer deserves his wages means that what the labourer receives for his labour is not a privilege; it is his right. In the same way, salvation by works cancels the value of Christ’s death.
We are justified by faith to do works of righteousness. This means we do not continue sinning because we are saved by grace.
Prayer of the day and week: Holy Spirit help me to do the works of God as a response to the unmerited love of Christ. Amen!
Welcome to a new working day and week! Have a blessed day and week! Peace be with you!
Rev Babila Fochang.