Him Who Justifies the Ungodly

Today's passage deals with the story of how, when Abraham fully believed God's promise even when it seemed he would have no descendants, God counted his faith as righteousness. It makes clear that Abraham, going beyond the limits of the flesh, believed that Christ would come and rejoiced, and that because of this all the believers of the Old Testament were declared righteous by faith.

The sermon points out the pride of people who mistakenly think they gained salvation by their own efforts or deeds, and boast of it. Stressing that grace is not the wages of those who work but the gift of God, who justifies the ungodly, it warns against thinking of devotion as payment for grace. It also explains that when we rely on Christ and persevere through suffering and trials, we can confirm Christ's work within us.

We need to think deeply about how we are receiving the grace of salvation we were given freely, and with what attitude we should live in order to keep that faith.