GLEANINGS - GenesisSample

What is the meaning of “Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness”

Paul quotes this verse in Romans 4:3 to show that Abraham was not justified by works. "Abraham believed God [trusted God, banked on God's free mercy, looked away from his hopeless, ungodly self to God's grace] and that faith was credited to him as righteousness."

Many people assume that if they do good works, God will compensate them with salvation. And, as long as they continue to do good works, He keeps them saved. This is a works-salvation. There is no grace here, only the repetition of work, work, and more work. And if they stop working, the pay ceases. There’s no more salvation; only the fearful expectation of judgment.

The Hebrew word for reckoned or credited is chashab which means to impute. The word “imputation” itself is an accounting term used both in the Old Testament and the New Testament. It is the language of records or accounting.

The Greek word for “credited” is logizomai which means “to determine by a mathematical process, reckon, calculate, frequently in a transferred sense.” It is a bookkeeping or accounting term that means ‘to post to the account of,’ ‘to credit to the account of,’ or ‘to put to the account of.’ It is when something is moved out of one side of a ledger account and transferred into the other side of the ledger. In the world of banking, one may take an asset out of one account and transfer it over to a different account. That is what the word “credited” means. God takes the perfect righteousness of Jesus Christ and transfers it into the account of the sinner who believes.

The word “righteousness” (dikaiosyne) means ‘perfect conformity to a standard.’ Justification gives a standing of perfect conformity to God’s own holiness. That is what was transferred into Abraham’s account. This transfer happened immediately. It was not progressive. It was at the exact moment that Abraham believed. It was a complete transfer. It did not come in installments. It is also a present transfer, meaning it is a reality in this lifetime.

The perfect righteousness of God was purchased by Jesus Christ and transferred into Abraham’s account. Abraham has done nothing to deserve it, earn it, or work for it. It is credited purely by the grace of God.

Neither do we, because salvation is not by works but by grace. It is a free gift of God.

APPLICATION QUESTION:

Are you still working for your salvation or have you received it as a gift? Do so today.

QUOTE:

You will find all true theology summed up in these two short sentences: Salvation is all of the grace of God. Damnation is all of the will of man. Charles Spurgeon

PRAYER:

Lord, I thank You for helping me to understand the truth of salvation, that I do not have to work for it. I repent of my sin of trying to do it on my own and commit my life to You today. Amen