What does the Scripture say? Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness. Now when a man works, his wages are not credited to him as a gift, but as an obligation. (Romans 4:3,4—NIV)

God spoke to Abraham concerning the miracle God was to do concerning Abraham's seed. Abraham, who had no children at the time, believed God. God counted Abraham's belief as righteousness.

Paul uses this incident to prove God may choose to declare a person righteous solely on the basis of belief, there being no accompanying works of righteousness. Righteousness through belief in God's Word is the foundation of Christian theology. But have we really understood what Paul meant?

Paul was speaking to Jews, or to those who were acquainted with the Law. This is evident in chapters three through five of the Book of Romans.

Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin. (Romans 3:20—NIV)

This is especially evident in Chapter Seven. Chapter Seven is addressed to the righteous Jew who was troubled because, while he desired to keep the Law, he was unable to do so because of the law of sin in his body. The law of sin is the interaction of our sinful nature with the Law of Moses.

Do you not know, brothers—for I am speaking to men who know the law—that the law has authority over a man only as long as he lives? (Romans 7:1—NIV)

It is impossible to understand the Book of Romans or the Book of Galatians until we picture ourselves as a Jewish person who is striving to attain righteousness by keeping the Law of Moses.

When Paul spoke of "works" he was addressing Jews and referring to the works of the Law of Moses. We Gentiles have perverted the doctrine of grace preached by the Apostle Paul because we think of works as upright behavior, not as the observance of the statutes of Moses.

Therefore, "the righteous shall live by faith" is interpreted by Gentile Christians as meaning we are righteous as long as we believe what God has said, independently of how we behave. Our conclusion is supported by Paul's use of Abraham and the ascribing of righteousness to him on the basis of his belief in the promise of God.

He took him outside and said, "Look up at the heavens and count the stars—if indeed you can count them." Then he said to him, "So shall your offspring be." Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness. (Genesis 15:5,6—NIV)

Are you with me thus far?

If we are acquainted with the New Testament we know of the many commandments issued by Jesus Christ and His Apostles. We know also that several times in the Gospels and the Epistles we are warned of dire consequences if we do not do what the Lord said.

But suppose the servant says to himself, "My master is taking a long time in coming," and he then begins to beat the menservants and maidservants and to eat and drink and get drunk. The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers. (Luke 12:45,46—NIV)

To be continued.