Righteousness apart from the law

“Thus David congratulates the man and pronounces a blessing on him to whom God credits righteousness apart from the works he does:”

Romans 4:6

Our gospel of God's grace is a stumbling block to religion in all its forms. It is established on God's eternal wisdom : how he planned to bless man , not on the basis of their works but on the basis of faith in His Son, Jesus Christ. 

I would like to make it clear that salvation is not simply an insurance to the flames of hell as some presume but it is acceptance into an unbroken fellowship with God both in this world and after this present world. 

Some teach that grace allows you to go to heaven but if you do wrong then God won't answer your prayers , won't heal you , won't prosper you and as long as you are in the earth , it's based on your own performance. You have to fast more , pray more , go to church more , have long dresses and all these external features which are good but are not the reason why God blesses us. God has already decided to bless you , Jesus died 2000 years ago before you did right or wrong. God solved the problem of the future in the past. What great wisdom our God has!! 

That is exactly what our opening scripture is saying. David , as a prophet of God saw what salvation was to bring to those who would receive it. How God would accept man not on the basis of his works (good or bad) but entirely because of His Son. Today we will focus on what David prophesied which are two things : The iniquities of the past and the sin of the future. 

“Blessed and happy and to be envied are those whose iniquities are forgiven and whose sins are covered up and completely buried.”

Romans 4:7

Beloved , this is great news to know that all the wrong you ever did in the past has been forgiven , it is completely buried, God doesn't count it against you anymore. God is not angry at you concerning the sins of the past. 

“It was God [personally present] in Christ, reconciling and restoring the world to favor with Himself, not counting up and holding against [men] their trespasses [but cancelling them], and committing to us the message of reconciliation (of the restoration to favor).”

2 Corinthians 5:19

God was in Christ , reconciling the world to Himself. That word reconciling is a musical term which means to bring into harmony. For people in love it means hearts beating at the same rate. That is fellowship!! That is what God was doing in Christ but the question remains how a holy God would bring a sinner into harmony with Himself? 

The scripture answers that for us : because He is not counting their trespasses against them but He is cancelling them! God is not imputing sins against man. The word imputing is an accounting term that means to add to your credit account. For example when you use a credit card in a shop , as you swipe : that amount is credited to your account so that you pay at the end of the month, it means you now owe the bank. In the same way , though you were the one that sinned , your sins are not credited into your account but into Jesus' account and thank God He already paid for all of it. So your credit has been cancelled. 

How did he cancel them ? Jesus paid for all sin. This is the message of reconciliation given to us to tell the whole world ; your sin has been paid for , your sin has been cancelled !! That is our chant wherever we go. 

“But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.” Romans 4:5

God justifies the unGodly : this is not what religion teaches. Religion says God is angry at the unGodly. NO, HE IS NOT. He is not imputing their sins against them. Sin is no longer an issue with God , the issue is : can you receive the free gift of righteousness.  

“But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;” Romans 3:21 

I focused on your past sins. The question is now ; what about your present and future sins. I have news for you ; they have already been paid for. I know you're shocked but stay with me tomorrow as we work on that. 

Don't allow condemnation to rob you of your fellowship with God. He is not angry at you. Your spirit is perfect . You are the righteousness of God in Christ. 

This is your week , no blue Mondays. Victory is yours all the way because of righteousness. 

Further study : Romans 4 

Remember : You are loved by God❤️