We talked yesterday of how “evangelicals” are afraid to identify as born again Christians in the presence of Muslims. The term “Christian” has been redefined many years ago. The redefined view is the accepted view today. Biblical Christianity has always been a minority position. God is overall, but He is rejected by the majority of mankind.
Careless Christianity cannot survive. Careless Christianity is unacceptable to God. We need to know the truth and identify with the truth.
In verse 6 of our text God directed Paul to use another Old Testament character that was well known to the original recipients. Even today, most people with even a superficial belief in God, know the name David as the king of Israel. From time to time we read of ungodly reporters referring to a “David and Goliath” situation that someone is facing. God pointed to David as a man of God whom He directed to write some important truths.
The apostle Paul referred back to Psalm 32:1-2. The blessedness of the Lord is reserved for those whose sin has been forgiven. The Greek word translated as “Imputeth” means: “to take an inventory”. It is the same Greek word translated as “counted” in verse 3 and as “reckoned” in verse 4. God looks at the man who is saved and He does not credit them with their sin any longer. It has been forgiven. As we see in the life of David and Abraham, there were still consequences for their sin, but their sin would not stand against them before God. The blood of Jesus Christ applied to their hearts would remove the condemnation of sin. However, they would live with the grief of seeing others suffer due to their wrong example.
God warned David that his “secret” sin with Bathsheba would become a public sin for Absalom with some of David’s concubines. God is showing us the blessing of being forgiven and knowing God’s peace in our hearts. God also reminds us of the importance of listening to Him first, rather than sinning and then coming running to Him for forgiveness. The Catholics and many others teach that sin is not good but not that serious either. After sinning, they teach that you can do penance and be absolved of the sin. Theirs’ is a false religion that appeals to the flesh. Most people have some negative influence from this lie in their lives.
Paul was directed by God to teach us the truth. The truth is what makes us free. The apostle Paul could write that he was ready to be offered up. He knew there was a reward awaiting him. He did not write that as a deluded man. He wrote that under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. He also stated that all those who “love His appearing” can have the same confidence. When we get a better glimpse of the holiness of God, we know we can not look forward to His appearing if we are guilty of sin.
God directed Paul to write of the blessing it is for a man to be free from guilt before God. It is a blessing when God looks at a man and cannot credit sin to his account.
In verse 9 we see how this can be accomplished. Paul began with a question. Is this blessing only for those who are circumcised (the Jews)? The uncircumcision are the Gentiles. God again pointed back to Abraham for the answer to this question. God counted Abraham’s faith as righteousness in Genesis 15. God gave the law of circumcision to Abraham in Genesis 17. Thus God shows us that circumcision had nothing to do with declaring Abraham righteous, In Genesis 17 God told Abraham that as His righteous child, he needed to obey the law of circumcision. This law required a very personal act demonstrating how the saint needs to separate from ungodliness. Gentiles are not commanded to be circumcised, however, they are commanded to separate from sin if they are saved.
In verse 10 God showed that this righteousness of Abraham was reckoned to him in uncircumcision. We have already noted that.
God wanted the Roman saints of Paul’s day to know that works could not save them. Those who would read this letter also needed to understand this fact. As Martin Luther studied this book, he should have paid attention to what he was reading. He read it through his Catholic lenses and thus he did not come to the knowledge of the truth.
As we mentioned in our opening remarks in this devotional, it is quite possible to be in a position of religious authority, but still be lost. There are people who reject God because they see the hypocrisy of those who claim to be saved. I have mentioned that I did that as a young person. The answer to that is not to reject God, but rather to listen to God as He convicts of sin in your conscience. As He convicts of sin, He will also guide you to the right place to get the answer to that guilty conscience. God is good. He does not leave man without the needed opportunity to find the truth. Those who are saved need to be faithful in praying and going to the lost. Those who are lost need to let God lead them to the truth.
Throughout my Christian life, God has proven Himself faithful to His Word. He has led me to individuals who have been seeking truth. He has also led individuals who are seeking truth to where I have been able to help them. God does not force anyone to remain lost and go to hell. He provides all that is needed for a person to be saved. The key is to listen to God’s leading.
I know there are people that God has led me to, who claim to believe, but prove they do not. They insist on their false beliefs and thus I cannot help them. A person that rejects God’s Word has condemned himself. The wise person learns the lessons God gives us from Abraham and David.
Pastor Bartel