Faith=Righteousness

In Romans 4, where St. Paul is talking about Abraham being justified by faith, he goes on to say that “Now when a man works, his wages are not credited to him as a gift, but as an obligation. However, to the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness” (Romans 4:4-5).  Because of our unrighteousness as sinners we are unable to enjoy life eternal.  Therefore we must need righteousness to enter into the Kingdom of God.  There is no perfect act of contrition or any amount of works that man can do to right himself with God.  Nor do works capitalize or assure us of our salvation.  I will tell you what assures you of your salvation:  That Jesus Christ died on the cross for your sins and rose again!  That single thing is what assures you of your salvation.  St. Paul goes on further to say that Abraham is “the father of all who believe but have not been circumcised, in order that righteousness may be credited to them” (Romans 4:11).  See that?  Abraham is the father of all who believe, not the father of all who do just works, or the father of those who believe but in addition to that assure themselves they are the seed of Abraham by the works they do.  Unfortunately, the Book of James muddies this situation for many people.  

The problem is that many read James and take him as saying that faith +works=salvation.  When he is promulgating the law of God, but in doing so showing that indeed faith=salvation but that a true faith shows its fruit.  The one believing in Jesus will be spurned by the Holy Spirit to do good works.  Certainly a man who says he is a Christian yet runs around defaming others, or worse murdering without remorse is no Christian.  James was warning against those who would label themselves as such yet live a life of sin glorification which spurned no good fruit for others to take example from.  “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand” (Romans 5:1-2).  Take serious note of what Paul is saying here: Because of what Christ did, the works of God, and through faith we are saved.  Indeed it took a work for me to be saved, but thanks be to God it wasn’t me who had to accomplish this task.  Jesus Christ, the Word of God is also the Work of God.  Upon that cross where Jesus died, I am redeemed through a work.  And by faith I may live my life in that work, and that faith spurns good works, but only because they are done in Christ.  What does this discipleship mean?  Does it mean we must abandon our lives at home and all become missionaries abroad?  No.  To deny oneself is to understand that this world and its promises have nothing to offer.  It is the first step, by God, that we are able to enter into faith, or discipleship.  Taking up ones cross does not mean we are to run stupidly into the Middle East and be executed for our beliefs.  It simply means to shoulder the things that come along with being a Christ, including the burdens.  And if you are to glorify God in death, then may it be glorious to Him.  To follow Jesus is to focus strictly on the cross.  It means that everything you do, you interpret through the cross.  

Yet, we are humans, and we screw up.  Luckily, we are covered by grace through faith.  Yet this faith does not ask us to be quiet and to sit at home and say, “Whew, it’s over.”  Nowhere in the Bible does it promise a happy, healthy, wealthy lifestyle in following God.  In fact it states just the opposite.  Jesus told His disciples that the world would hate them because it hated Him first.  From a world-view there is no joy in that.  But the Christian sees the joy in giving it all up for Jesus, and that is how we are happy in this life.