“Without Works” (Rom 4:6-8)

“Even as David describes the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputes 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” (vs6-8)

There is RIGHTEOUSNESS without works, and we REJOICE and thank God for it. We are UTTERLY weak, and if you don’t know your weakness, then I have God’s word of “not working” to convince you and I that we can’t do anything apart from the Spirit. He quickens as He sees fit, and He LEAVES us to taste powerlessness, so we can be STRIPPED and honor God. The Psalmist said, “My soul cleaves unto the dust: quicken you me according to your word“, so that the gospel of NO CONDEMNATION is God‘s power to lift up those who can‘t work for God (Ps 119:25). Yes, He removes SELFISH ambitions and purges us from SEEKING our own, so that I ONLY want to be saved… then, I want to honor Him who saved me. I have no heart for selfish ambition because God has PROVEN Heshimu to be empty, vain, vile, and saved by mercy only. I can’t say “better” than you, but I can say “blessed” of God, and He will bless you too.

There is an elect whom God talks too, and these will be saved. We FEAR the wrath of God, see GLORY in Jesus Christ, and we TRUST Him to the saving of our souls, believing the word.  Just as God has spoken, He will do - “Is any thing too hard for the Lord? At the time appointed I will return unto you, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son” (Gen 18:14).  And, PRAISE GOD that He saves people who cannot do a thing, but BELIEVE in the salvation that He GIVES, quickening us by it.

Like Job, we’re in the dust and humbled, in order to be lifted up. We blush, we give glory, and now we lend a hand. The all-wise God STRIPS us of pride and vain ambition, so we can bask, from the heart, in grace. I know of no power on earth or heaven that can QUICKEN me but God. When I’m quickened BY the gospel, I can endure; until then, I am increasingly undone and miserable. I will make it by GRACE alone, so I lean there.