Romans 4:1-8 Everything begins and ends with the heart
Romans 4:1-8 Everything begins and ends with the heart
What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, has found? 2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. 3 For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” 4 Now to the one who works, his wage is not credited as a favor, but as what is due. 5 But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness,
6 just as David also speaks of the blessing on the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works: 7 “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds have been forgiven, and whose sins have been covered. 8 “Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will not take into account.”
Background
When God considers a man as righteous, He considers him as His own and predestines him a glorious calling. How did Abraham become righteous before God? Did he do something in exchange for God’s gift? No. However, God is moved by Abraham’s heart, and He freely releases the gift of righteousness to him. God predestines our future according to the nature of our hearts. If we change our heart, we turn our future for good or for evil. That said, we may begin with the right heart having obtained our divine calling, but if we do not watch over our heart, we run the risk of falling short of our calling. Today’s devotion teaches us: Everything begins and ends with the heart.
Observation
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.”
Paul now draws upon the life of Abraham, the father of the Jews to establish his point. God adopted Abraham into His family (justified) not because he fulfilled the precepts and observances as stipulated in the Law. But rather, God, having seen Abraham’s willingness to obey Him (Abraham believed God) considered Him as righteous. God makes Abraham righteous (credited to him as righteousness) by doing two things:
1. He adopted Abraham as His own.
Ever since Adam sold his soul to the devil, humanity is enslaved to the devil. God has been hard at work to reconcile humanity to Himself as His sons. Those who are willing to cut their allegiance with the devil and be reconciled to God, He adopts them as His own. Abraham is such an individual who is willing to separate himself from the devil to do God’s will. God, in response to Abraham’s obedience, credited to him as righteousness.
2. He gave Abraham divine grace to establish God’s rule on earth.
Not only did God adopt Abraham into His holy family, but God also imputed Abraham with His righteous attributes. Thus, Abraham did not only receive a divine identity but divine grace as well. It is God’s divine grace that enabled Abraham to do great works. Therefore, Abraham had nothing to boast about before God. Abraham did not do anything to merit God’s divine adoption or grace except his willingness to obey God (faith).
It is important to note that Abraham was technically still in his sins even though he was considered righteous by God. For he died while awaiting a resurrection that comes from the perfect righteousness of Jesus.
That said, Abraham has set the standard and pattern through which all Old and New Testament believers receive God’s gift of righteousness. Indeed, God is never moved by one’s achievements and abilities, but by one’s sincerity to repent and reconcile with God.
Now to the one who works, his wage is not credited as a favor, but as what is due. But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness.
If one works in exchange for something of value, what he receives is counted as a wage (what is due), not as a gift (favour). But if one receives something of value without actually working for it (one who does not work), it is considered as a gift. Paul addresses the wrong mindset of the Jews who perceive righteousness as a wage that can be earned through works. Indeed, righteousness (a divine identity as son of God) cannot be acquired through works because it is impossible for humanity to earn it. Hence, God gives it as a gift.
How then can one acquire the gift of righteousness apart from working for it? It is through one’s faith. To have faith (to believe in Him) is to be willing and determined to turn from evil to reconcile with God, to forsake one’s rights to obey God wholeheartedly. Only faith can merit God’s gift of divine righteousness (his faith is credited as righteousness).
Indeed, a man looks on the outward appearance, but God looks at the heart. And faith is the product of the heart which no works can replicate. And it is faith that moves God to look pass man’s evil nature to adopt him as son.
Just as David also speaks of the blessing on the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:
“Blessed are those whose lawless deeds have been forgiven, and whose sins have been covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will not take into account.”
Paul explains how David received forgiveness from God apart from the works of sin offerings and sacrifices. The Jews believe that God’s righteousness and forgiveness can be obtained by a sin offering. A man offers a sacrifice and receives forgiveness and blessings in return. Such offerings that are transactional are considered as works without faith. However, God does not respond to works but to faith. Faith translates to a heart that trusts and fears God. King David received forgiveness not by a religious ritual or an offering per se, but by faith demonstrated by his contrite heart.
Truth
Everything begins and ends with the heart.
How does the state of our heart affect us?
God predestines our future according to the nature of our hearts. If we change our heart, we turn our future for good or for evil. For a kind person, God predestines him and his descendants for righteousness, glory and prosperity. For a person with an evil disposition, God has no such plans except to discipline him toward repentance. At the conception of Esau and Jacob, God saw the hearts of the two boys and predestined their future. God said to Rebekah,
“Two nations are in your womb;
And two peoples will be separated from your body;
And one people shall be stronger than the other;
And the older shall serve the younger.” – Genesis 25:23
God has predestined Esau (the older) to serve Jacob (the younger) because He loved what is in Jacob’s heart and hated what is in Esau’s heart (see Malachi 1:2-3). All their works will not change what God has predetermined for them and their descendants.
Paul taught believers to pay utmost attention to our hearts as opposed to our achievements,
If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing. – 1 Corinthians 13:2-3
It is regrettable if all our works on earth bear no legacy or record in heaven.
Why do we need to stay vigilant concerning our heart’s condition?
We may begin with the right heart having obtained our divine calling, but if we do not watch over our heart, we run the risk of falling short of our calling. Moses began well, but he let the rebellious people get to his heart. He disobeyed God by attempting to ruin the supply of water to the people. He struck the rock instead of speaking to it (see Numbers 20:11). Consequently, he was barred from entering the promised land and did not accomplish his call. Abraham began with the right heart by answering God’s call to leave his country. He watch over his heart and accomplished his call through the sacrifice of his son, Issac. Therefore, proverbs teaches us to…
Watch over your heart with all diligence. For from it flow the springs of life. – Proverbs 4:23
The right heart may predestine for us a glorious calling, but only by watching over it can we accomplish that calling.
Applications
Begin each day by watching over our heart. Ask God who sees our heart the following questions:
- How pleased are you with the posture of my heart?
- How much is my life (personal, family, career, ministry) aligned with your perfect will for me?
- How holy are my ambitions and motives concerning work and ministry?
- How faithful am I to my spouse? Are my relationships at the workplace proper?
- How righteous am I in my business dealings?
- Have I harboured lust, greed, envy, vengeance and bitterness in my heart?
Dear Lord, search me and reveal the state of my heart. If there are hurt and misgivings, heal it with your love. If there are greed and envy, grant me divine contentment. If there is lust, cleanse me with your truth. If there are fleshly ambitions, cause me to know who I am. If there is apathy, inspire me with the love and passion of Jesus. In Jesus’s name I pray. Amen.