Gift of righteousness
Day 555, Tuesday, Feb. 17
Romans 4:1-25
Paul continues to explain the connection between the route to salvation shown in the Old Testament and the route shown in the New Testament—and why they are not as different as they look.
To the observant Jew, the law was a gift given to their ancestor Abraham. While the spelling out of the law didn’t come until Moses, its foundation was in the instruction to Abraham to require circumcision. While circumcision itself was critically important, it also served as a representation of the whole law. We can understand how Paul’s critics believed that his willingness to admit gentiles to the faith without circumcision undermined the whole law.
Paul addresses this by claiming that Abraham’s righteousness was not based on his obedience to the law, but rather on the faith that led him to become obedient to the law. “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” The works of the law did not earn salvation. Instead, the salvation obtained through faith led to obedience to the law. The order is made clear in verse 10: “Under what circumstances was it [Abraham’s faith] credited? Was it after he was circumcised or before? It was not after, but before.”
Therefore, the promise of salavation is given, not earned. As Paul writes in verse 16, “the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring.”
If the promise were earned, it would not be a gift. “Now to the one who works, wages are not credited as a gift but as an obligation,” Paul said. Soon, in 6:23, Paul will clarify what wages we have earned: “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

-Rev. Mark Fleming

Tuesday meditation

Psalms 79:1-13
O God, the nations have invaded your inheritance; they have defiled your holy temple, they have reduced Jerusalem to rubble. They have left the dead bodies of your servants as food for the birds of the sky, the flesh of your own people for the animals of the wild. They have poured out blood like water all around Jerusalem, and there is no one to bury the dead. We are objects of contempt to our neighbors, of scorn and derision to those around us.
How long, Lord? Will you be angry forever? How long will your jealousy burn like fire? Pour out your wrath on the nations that do not acknowledge you, on the kingdoms that do not call on your name; for they have devoured Jacob and devastated his homeland.
Do not hold against us the sins of past generations; may your mercy come quickly to meet us, for we are in desperate need. Help us, God our Savior, for the glory of your name; deliver us and forgive our sins for your name’s sake. Why should the nations say, “Where is their God?”
Before our eyes, make known among the nations that you avenge the outpoured blood of your servants. May the groans of the prisoners come before you; with your strong arm preserve those condemned to die. Pay back into the laps of our neighbors seven times the contempt they have hurled at you, Lord. Then we your people, the sheep of your pasture, will praise you forever; from generation to generation we will proclaim your praise.

Prayer focus
Grant us the faith of Abraham so that we may receive your great gift of salvation.