The heartfelt cry among many individuals is “How can I be righteous before God?” We are keenly aware of our sin and although we may be presentable on the outside we know the thoughts and intentions of our hearts. We believe that we need to do something to amend our ways so we perform some type of penance to atone for our sins. This self-effort may take a number of forms: good works, giving, and even religious acts of service. These acts may be good but we find that we’re doing them for the wrong motive. We’re doing these acts to gain God’s favor rather than because of God’s favor.

So how does one become righteous before God? Abraham, the father of our faith reveals the answer,

Then he believed in the Lord; and He reckoned it to him as righteousness. (Genesis 15:6)

Abraham was not justified because of his good works, but because of his faith. This is such an important concept that it is repeated several times in the New Testament. We see this verse explained in the fourth chapter of the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Romans,

What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, has found? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” (Romans 4:1-3)

Abraham was not justified by his good works nor by his obedience to the law,

For the promise to Abraham or to his descendants that he would be heir of the world was not through the Law, but through the righteousness of faith. (Romans 4:13)

Abraham’s faith was confirmed through his behavior,

yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able also to perform. Therefore it was also credited to him as righteousness. (Romans 4:20-22)

The amazing truth is that righteousness may be applied to all who believe in Him,

Now not for his sake only was it written that it was credited to him, but for our sake also, to whom it will be credited, as those who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead, (Romans 4:23-24)

We are made righteous by our faith in Jesus Christ. You may be thinking, “But I’m not Abraham!” You must realize that Abraham was an imperfect man. He had an imperfect faith, however he was perfectly justified. For those who believe in Jesus you can declare with Paul,

Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, (Romans 5:1 )

Associate Pastor – Discipleship.  The Church at LifePark

Professor of Discipleship, Columbia International University

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