Romans 4:2 – 3 “For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.”
Matthew Poole, a biblical commentator in the 1600’s
had this truth to say, “The argument of the apostle might be thus formed: If
Abraham had obtained justification by works, he should have had somewhat
whereof he might glory before God: but he had nothing whereof to glory before
God; therefore he was not justified by works.” It is true that the greatest
majority of those who identifies as Christin’s and even churches believes that
works are a necessity to be saved but are they correct. Works in themselves are
glory to the person doing them, however, if one believes works were in any part
necessary to be saved then he “…hath whereof to glory; but not before God.” God
does not count the works of a non-believer in Jesus Christ as to have any value
to Him. The Apostle Paul wrote this about his beloved Nation of Israel about
their unbelief. “For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but
not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and
going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves
unto the righteousness of God.” Romans 10:2. Having “a zeal of
God” is not enough to get you to heaven, because it is “not according to
knowledge.” of God’s word. When God is telling us about His salvation and
He says, “Not of works, lest any man should boast.” Ephesians 2:9 If
salvation is of grace, then there is not room for works, “And if by grace,
then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of
works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.” Rom 11:6
Abraham had a lot of works in his life but not for his salvation, but because
of his salvation. Abrahams works were because he “believed God” and that
believing of the record of God is where his righteousness was accounted. Righteousness
in the Lord is believing God and not by things we do. God very clearly explained
people’s unrighteousness and depravity in Romans 3:9 – 20 without question or
doubt. The problem with most people is that they do not believe God. Paul wrote
of works again in Romans 3:26 - 27 “To declare, I say, at this time his
righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth
in Jesus. Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay:
but by the law of faith.” Boasting, which defines our works is excluded
from salvation by Jesus Christ because He is our Saviour, our righteousness,
our justification, therefore we must believe God when He says, if we believe in
Him then we have eternal life. God went on to say, “Who is a liar but he
that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the
Father and the Son.” 1 John 2:22 If people proclaim that Jesus Christ is
not God’s salvation gift to us then they not only deny the gift of God’s Saviour
but call God a liar because they have not believed God. “He that believeth
on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath
made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.”
1 John 5:10 Anyone who believes that salvation includes personal works then
they make God a liar and count the work of His Son Jesus worthless. Man cannot
be his own savior no more than they can be their own doctor. We must be like
Abraham and believe God, however, people will never believe God unless God
quickens their dead spirit. People cannot quicken their spirit, they are
incapable of repenting from their evil heart, and are incapable of coming to
Christ on their own. Unless the Holy Spirit does all these things for them, they
will never believe God and will die believing Satan’s lie. “And with all
deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received
not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God
shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all
might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”
2 Thessalonians 2:10 – 12 Do you believe
Satan’s lie or God’s truth, because if you are not believing God as Abraham
then you are not righteous. “He that believeth on the Son of God hath the
witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he
believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.” 1 John 5:10 Believing
in His Son and not of our works.
