____________________________________________________ THE GOSPEL OBSERVER "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations...teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:19,20). ____________________________________________________ January 21, 2001 ____________________________________________________ "Righteousness Apart From Works" by Leon Cathey 23 for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God; 24 being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 25 whom God set forth to be a propitiation, through faith, in his blood, to show his righteousness because of the passing over of the sins done aforetime, in the forbearance of God (Romans 3:23-25 ASV). The above passage is part of Paul's introduction to his section on ``Justification'' (A section beginning with Romans 3:21 and ending with Romans 5:21). Paul is stating the position he will defend: We are justified, that is to say blessed, because of our faith in the consequences of Jesus' death. Sins are removed, not ignored but paid for, not by Jesus's perfect life but by his death as the perfect sacrifice -- The red blood of Christ makes the blessed one's ledger sheet pure white. This position was at odds with those convinced the Law of Moses was still in effect, that is to say, those rejecting the position Christ's death nailed the Law of Moses to the cross (Colossians 2:14; Ephesians 2:15-16). The Jews were convinced the Law of Christ was not a replacement for the Law of Moses, just an addition, primarily for the Gentiles. The Jews believed Abraham had earned his justification and had sufficient credits leftover to cover all Jews (Luke 3:8). Therefore, they resisted any doctrine, including the doctrine of Christ, suggesting Abraham was saved by grace. If Paul can prove Abraham was saved not by his efforts but by his faith, that is to say, he required God's grace to be justified, Paul will establish the futility of following any law of merit or works, for example the Law of Moses, for justification. Paul begins his proof by asking a question that a follower of the Law of Moses would ask: What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather, hath found according to the flesh? (Romans 4:1, ASV) The Jew's argument presented to Paul was: ``If the gospel of Christ is correct then you are saying Abraham, our forefather, was not justified by his works. Yet, we know he was justified by his works. Therefore, your gospel is wrong, i.e. is not of God.'' Paul presents in Romans 4:2-8 three arguments showing no one can make God obligated to them, no one can merit salvation, not even Abraham. Even Abraham the one most likely to be justified by his deeds is not innocent, not free of wrong doing -- Abraham required grace: 2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not toward God. 3 For what saith the scripture? And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned unto him for righteousness. 4 Now to him that worketh, the reward is not reckoned as of grace, but as of debt. 5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is reckoned for righteousness. 6 Even as David also pronounceth blessing upon the man, unto whom God reckoneth righteousness apart from works, 7 saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, And whose sins are covered. 8 Blessed is the man to whom, the Lord will not reckon sin (Romans 4:2-8, ASV). We shall consider Paul's arguments proving we are justified of our sin because Christ paid the debt -- not because we earned justification. The Study First Argument is from the Old Testament (Romans 4:2-3): ``For if Abraham was justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not toward God'' (v. 2). The power of this statement lies in the meaning of two words: 1) ``Justified'': This word, in its Greek form, means, to regard as innocent; no evidence is available to prove one guilty -- the ledger is blank. 2) ``Glory'': This word, in its Greek form, means, boasting. Paul is saying, ``If Abraham was regarded as innocent because of his works he had the right to boast before men but not before God -- All of you call him innocent but God did not.'' ``For what saith the scripture? And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned unto him for righteousness'' (v. 3). With this verse Paul gives Book, Chapter, and Verse support for the previous verse. The Greek word translated as our word ``reckoned'' means, to reckon, compute, calculate, count over. It deals with reality, refers to facts not suppositions. For example: If I count or reckon that my bank account has $25 in it, it has $25 in it. The verse Paul used is Genesis 15:6. He did not have to quote the context for the Jews knew the context. However, for us to grasp the power of Paul's argument let us consider the context: 1 After these things the word of Jehovah came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward. 2 And Abram said, O Lord Jehovah, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless, and he that shall be possessor of my house is Eliezer of Damascus? 3 And Abram said, Behold, to me thou hast given no seed: and, lo, one born in my house is mine heir. 4 And, behold, the word of Jehovah came unto him, saying, This man shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir. 5 And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and number the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be. 6 And he believed in Jehovah; and he reckoned it to him for righteousness (Genesis 15:1-6, ASV). With physical evidence to the contrary (his age and his wife's age), Abraham believed (had faith, trusted) he would be a prolific progenitor. Paul's First Argument is proven: Abraham was justified by belief (faith) in God; therefore, his justification was by grace--not works. Second Argument is from everyday events (Romans 4:4-5). To correctly appreciate Paul's argument we must understand a non-worker is not the same as non-obedient. Paul is not discussing a worker versus a non-obedient, but one who earns justification because his conduct is flawless versus one who does not earn it because his conduct has flaws. To say one who ``worketh not'' is the same as one who ``obeyeth not'' is to read what Paul has not written. ``Now to him that worketh, the reward is not reckoned as of grace, but as of debt'' (v. 4). The word ``reward'' is the Greek word used of the fruit naturally resulting from toils and endeavors, that is to say, being paid for services rendered. This means a worker has the legal right to demand wages for his work, he earned it, and is not even required to say thanks. Justification via the Law of Moses is the legal method. ``But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is reckoned for righteousness'' (v. 5). The non-worker has no works; what he receives cannot be based on what he has earned; therefore, what he receives is not counted as wages, but the employer's kindness. Abraham's righteousness was based on his faith in God, not his works, not his earnings. Paul's Second Argument is proven: God ``counted'' Abraham to be righteous because of Abraham's faith; therefore, Abraham's works did not earn him righteousness. We must note Abraham's faith was not a sickly, dead, and disobedient faith, but a lively, active, and obedient faith (Hebrews 11:8-10; 17-19). Abraham did not spend energy to earn his salvation, but he did spend energy to be obedient; i.e. he did what God told him to do. Third Argument is Paul's position ``counted righteous'' is not a new concept (Romans 4:6-7): ``Even as David also pronounceth blessing upon the man, unto whom God reckoneth righteousness apart from works'' (v. 6). Paul says to his readers, ``David said the same thing as I -- salvation is by grace.'' He then quotes Psalms 32:1-2. ``saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, And whose sins are covered'' (v. 7). Consider the Greek meaning of four words: 1) ``iniquities'': violation of law. 2) ``forgiven'': to send forth; to send away. 3) ``sins'': to miss the mark by even a little bit and not share in the prize. 4) ``covered'': to conceal; to permanently remove from sight. The power of David's statement is, ``The blessed man is not one who has broken no law (committed no sin), but the man whose evidence of lawbreaking and sin has been permanently hidden or removed. Paul's Third Argument is proven: Even David agrees: one cannot earn justification, cannot earn salvation. Paul then draws an obvious conclusion (Romans 4:8): ``Blessed is the man to whom, the Lord will not reckon sin.'' Blessed not because he worked off his debt and is now debt free, but because the debt he was incapable of working off was sent away, removed, canceled. Paul's three arguments have proven his position: Abraham was saved by grace not works. Conclusion and Application Paul has proven no man can work off his sin debt -- salvation is by grace, but two questions remain... 1) ``Who is the `blessed' whose sin debt is removed?'' or ``Who is the one now un-condemned?'' The answer: ``There is therefore now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus'' (Romans 8:1, ASV). Those sanctified or set apart in Christ Jesus are the blessed whose debt is removed. 2) ``How does one get into Christ where there is no condemnation?'' The answer: ``3 Or are ye ignorant that all we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him through baptism unto death: that like as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we also might walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have become united with him in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection; 6 knowing this, that our old man was crucified with him, that the body of sin might be done away, that so we should no longer be in bondage to sin'' (Romans 6:3-6, ASV). Those in Christ are those who have been buried [and raised] to walk a new life of serving Jesus our Lord and Christ. Justification and salvation is ``free'' but not ``cheap''; they required the blood of an innocent man and our willingness to follow Christ in thought and actions. The life of a Christian is a life of ``no condemnation,'' but not a life of ``no responsibility.'' Salvation is by grace, but not grace without effort--for even faith is a work (1 Thes. 1:3). Reckoned righteousness--that is to say, salvation--demands obedience. Peruse, Ponder, and Practice -- Via The Noble Search, October 27, 1999 ___________________________________________ News & Notes We look forward to hearing John Thompson, who will be our special speaker during the morning worship hour next Sunday. We welcome those of you who are visiting with us today and hope you will come again. If you have never been here before, please fill out a visitor's card. Thank you. Feel free to visit The Gospel Observer web site, where you can find 570 bulletins (going back to March 1990), which are listed in yearly indexes. A simple click on the date will access that particular bulletin. The address for it is as follows: http://www.mypage.onemain.com/tedwards/go If you would like to receive the e-mail version of our weekly bulletin, just let us know. We would be happy to include you. (Our address is shown below.) ________________________________________ Avondale CHURCH OF CHRIST P.O. Box 421 (only mail address) 1606 Glen Willow Rd., Avondale, PA 19311 (610) 268-2088 Sunday: 10:00 A.M. Bible class 11:00 A.M. Worship 6:00 P.M. Worship Wednesday: 7:00 P.M. Bible study evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (610) 925-3567 e-mail: tedwards@onemain.com web site: http://www.mypage.onemain.com/tedwards/avondale ________________________________________