The illustration of justification continued.
In Paul’s time, the Jewish Christians insisted that non-Jewish Christians must obey the requirements of the law of Moses, including circumcision. They insisted that obedience to the law of Moses was required to justify sinners. Paul counteracts this claim with a logical argument. “Now to the one who works, his pay is not credited due to grace but due to obligation.” Romans 4:4, NET. If our justification were based on our obedience to the Moral Law and the written code, it would be pay, not a grant. It would mean God justified us because he was obligated to do so. However, because of sin in the garden of Eden, humankind could not perform the work the law required. Even the best possible effort counted as evil in God’s eyes. Therefore, there was no way for humankind to free itself from the condemnation by the law.
In the case of Abraham, righteousness was granted to him because he believed God when he said that he would make Abraham a great nation. God did not credit righteousness to Abraham based on his works of faith. Abraham did not perform any physical work of faith that warranted the grant by God. God told Abraham, “Go to the land I will show you, and I will make you a great nation.” Abraham did not know where the land was; he must go. He also did not know how God would make him a great nation. However, he believed that God would fulfill his promise. And God credited it to Abraham as righteousness even though he did not perform anything. He only believed that he was serious concerning his promise. Therefore, Abraham did not earn righteousness. It was the unmerited grant by God, whom Abraham did not know yet.
Paul, in Romans, employs legal terms extensively. His arguments and conclusions follow the principles of legal proceedings in civil courts. In doing so, Paul asserts that all arguments and evidence in favor and against sinners have been exhausted. The verdict by the Judge is just and final. Sinners are guilty as charged and deserve eternal death. Paul asserts that God’s righteousness and peace relative to sinners have met at Golgotha. “Loyal love and faithfulness met; deliverance and peace greet each other with a kiss.” Psalm 85:10, NET. David presented this as if it had already occurred. Paul agrees. “For he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world that we may be holy and unblemished in his sight in love.” Ephesians 1:4, NET, Christ, our paschal lamb, was without blemish. Therefore, those who are in Jesus Christ are also unblemished. God views us so because of Jesus Christ.
To be continued in the next blog.
