"Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord will never count against them." (4:8) In other words, a blessed person is a forgiven person and a righteous person. How can we receive this blessedness? Does it come with circumcision, as the Jews claimed, or by something else? Paul turns to Abraham, the father of faith. When was Abraham credited with righteousness? It was not when he received circumcision, but when he believed God. Likewise, God credits us with righteousness when we believe him. Righteousness does not come through anything we do, whether circumcised or not but by faith. So, Abraham is the father of faith to us all. Furthermore, God fulfills his promise to Abraham to make him a blessing to the whole world (Ge 12:3)!

God made Abraham-an old, childless man with a barren wife-the father of many nations. Abraham's body was as good as dead but he believed the Lord would fulfill his promise to make him a father. He never weakened in his faith because he knew God's faithfulness. God only credited Abraham with righteousness. He also credits us with that same righteousness! When we have faith in Jesus Christ who died for our sins and was raised to life for our justification, we are blessed and made righteous.


Application: Father, I believe Jesus died for my sins and was raised that I may have life. Thank you for your righteousness.
One Word: God credits righteousness to all who have faith