2 If Abraham was indeed justified by works, he had something to boast about, but not before God.

3 For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”

4 Now the wages of the worker are not credited as a gift, but as an obligation.

5 However, to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness.

13 For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world was not given through the law, but through the righteousness that comes by faith.

16 Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may rest on grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring—not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all.

24 but also for us, to whom righteousness will be credited—for us who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.

25 He was delivered over to death for our trespasses and was raised to life for our justification.

— Romans 4:2-5; 13, 16, 24-25

Thoughts on Today’s Reading

Grace, mercy and love from Christ to you.

God credited righteousness to Abraham because of his faith. God also credits righteousness to us when we place our faith in Christ. It’s a divine exchange. Our sins are placed on Jesus and His righteousness is credited to us. Have you ever felt weighed down by guilt or shame, wondering if God could truly love you? Justification by faith tells us that our standing before God isn’t based on our past mistakes or our present struggles. It’s based on Christ’s perfect sacrifice.

Paul’s message in Romans reminds us that we don’t have to earn God‘s love or forgiveness. We simply place our faith in Christ. In Jesus we are forgiven, accepted and made righteous in God‘s eyes. Paul’s teaching on justification was radical then and it remains powerful today. For centuries people have tried to bridge the gap between humanity and God with religious rituals, sacrifices, and moral effort, but Paul reveals that none of these things can make us right with God. Justification is a gift.