Romans 4:1-12 (NRSV)
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Chapter 4What then are we to say was gained by Abraham, our ancestor according to the flesh? Verse 2For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. Verse 3For what does the scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness." Verse 4Now to one who works, wages are not reckoned as a gift but as something due. Verse 5But to one who without works trusts him who justifies the ungodly, such faith is reckoned as righteousness. Verse 6So also David speaks of the blessedness of those to whom God reckons righteousness apart from works: Verse 7"Blessed are those whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; Verse 8blessed is the one against whom the Lord will not reckon sin."
Verse 9Is this blessedness, then, pronounced only on the circumcised, or also on the uncircumcised? We say, "Faith was reckoned to Abraham as righteousness." Verse 10How then was it reckoned to him? Was it before or after he had been circumcised? It was not after, but before he was circumcised. Verse 11He received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. The purpose was to make him the ancestor of all who believe without being circumcised and who thus have righteousness reckoned to them, Verse 12and likewise the ancestor of the circumcised who are not only circumcised but who also follow the example of the faith that our ancestor Abraham had before he was circumcised.
Devotion
Centuries ago, Paul proclaimed, "God reckoned Abraham's faith as righteousness." We are inheritors of Abraham's witness of faith and recipients of the saving gift of God's unconditional love in Jesus. This means our Lenten journey does not have to be about trying to become more holy or righteous. Rather, we give up our striving to "look good" to God and explore more deeply how unconditional grace can strengthen us in faith and service. As we do this, God opens our hearts, enlivens our minds and inspires us to re-commit ourselves to be bearers of that unconditional grace in our lives.
Prayer
Jesus, love of God incarnate, we praise you for bringing us to deeper faith in you. Amen.