© 20 Colin Melbourne
Abraham’s Righteousness
The Holy Ghost writing to the nascent flock of Spirit-filled Christians, in Rome and beyond via the Apostle Paul, elucidates the example of Abraham, as the only way to attain righteousness in God’s Book, Rom. 4:1-5:2 KJV;
What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?
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.
Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.
Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness.
How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision. And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also: And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised.
For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.
For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect: Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.
Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all, (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were. Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations; according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.
And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara’s womb: He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.
And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.
Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.
Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
God’s : Not His
We think of pioneering Abraham as being a righteous man, preeminent despite his occasional failings, but scripture makes clear that his righteousness was imputed to him, just as to every genuine believer.
Divine Righteousness was ascribed to him, credited to his account, because he believed that God would fulfil His Word to him.
This is not human righteousness; it is God’s Gift of righteousness, the same as we now have through trusting on Christ’s Faith and Sacrifice for us.
We have enormous respect for Abraham, and that can make us forget he had the same sinful nature we inherited from Adam, so he was just as unrighteous in himself as you and me.
Abraham is such an exemplary, and revered, patriarch, it’s a relief to see that “even his” righteousness before God was imputed, just like ours; which, from first to last, depends entirely on The Faith of Christ, and His Blood Sacrifice for mankind.
No Other Righteousness in Heaven
That is the only righteousness, acceptable before God, the righteousness that is His Gift to all who believe on The LORD Jesus Christ.
When you kneel before The Judge of judges to give account of your life on Earth, be clear on the fact that; the only righteousness that is accepted into Heaven is the perfect righteousness of Almighty God Himself. Yours doesn’t come up to scratch, does it?
None But His
All human righteousness is but filthy rags, Holy Bible, Isaiah 64:6 KJV;
But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
If your righteousness is anything less than God’s, you won’t be allowed into Heaven when you die: Forget it, and continue the rest of your fleeting existence in this world taking pleasure in your sin of unbelief. That is entirely your responsibility and choice.
Good News for Sinners
But if you are wise, and sick of your failure to come anywhere near to God’s perfect standard of righteousness, then I’ve wonderful news for you: Christ has done it for you.
His Own Arm
God came in the Flesh, kept His own Law with spotless righteousness, and finally laid down His sinless Life for; your sin, your guilt, your condemnation, sicknesses and infirmities (Isaiah 63:5 KJV).
His Blood Covenant is simple: Turn wholeheartedly to The LORD Jesus Christ now, and He will put you in Christ, where you will delight to follow Him, because you know you have been accepted in the beloved, and welcomed into God’s Heavenly realm.
When you meet your Maker at your Judgment, ensure you plead the righteousness of The LORD Jesus Christ; that He is your LORD and Saviour, who has imputed His righteousness to those in Christ, that you have walked on Earth as He walked, and led you, step by step.
Get that settled so that you will not plead your own righteousness, works, or faith, you simply rest in the sabbath of His righteousness, and His faith imputed to you by grace.
Adam’s Guilt
The English Holy Bible uses the word impute in relation to spiritual blessings, but also to guilt and curses, such as in 1 Sam. 22:15, 2 Sam. 19:19, and Rom. 4:8 KJV;
Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.
So what about the sin of the First Couple: Is Adam and Eve’s sin and guilt imputed to their progeny?
That’s an interesting question to ponder, but the fact is; God does not need to impute guilt to us, their descendants, because all are born with the same fallen sinful nature as their parents, and so are already born condemned under God’s Judgment.
That’s why Christ’s virgin birth became necessary, but a topic for another time.
What About Innocent Babies?
The LORD, in His gracious forbearance, does not count their sinful nature against neonates, but covers them with His Grace until each child attains the Age of Accountability.
Even sinners realise that it’d be unjust of God to condemn a helpless individual for the sins of its progenitors, but as soon as it reaches the Age of Decision, when it is able to distinguish between right and wrong, we all inevitably chose wrong, and become accountable for our own sins before Our Maker.
Sinners mature bearing the burden of their own guilt, none needs to be imputed, but of course the sinner is wide open to be influenced by the accumulated demonic oppression of its ancestors, in the form of generational curses, and besetting sins.
© 20 Colin Melbourne
