Accounted as righteousness
We are familiar with Abraham, the father of our faith
Romans 4:3 NKJV For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.”
- Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness
However, there is something else that is accounted to us as righteousness.
Psalm 106:29-31 NKJV Thus they provoked Him to anger with their deeds, And the plague broke out among them. [30] Then Phinehas stood up and intervened, And the plague was stopped. [31] And that was accounted to him for righteousness To all generations forevermore.
- that was accounted to him for righteousness To all generations forevermore.
Numbers 25:6-8 NKJV And indeed, one of the children of Israel came and presented to his brethren a Midianite woman in the sight of Moses and in the sight of all the congregation of the children of Israel, who were weeping at the door of the tabernacle of meeting. [7] Now when Phinehas the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he rose from among the congregation and took a javelin in his hand; [8] and he went after the man of Israel into the tent and thrust both of them through, the man of Israel, and the woman through her body. So the plague was stopped among the children of Israel.
- Abraham believed and obeyed, offered Isaac.
- Phinehas stood up and intervened; he did something based on his faith.
- So the plague was stopped.
Faith without action
James 2:18-24 NKJV But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. [19] You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe-and tremble! [20] But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? [21] Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? [22] Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? [23] And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God. [24] You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.
- O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?
- a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.
Accounted as sin
Romans 14:23 NKJV But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin.
- Do whatever by faith, don’t sin by carnal actions
Romans 10:16-17 NKJV But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “LORD, who has believed our report?” [17] So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
James 4:17 NKJV Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.
- Acting by Faith requires boldness to launch into the deep, be peculiar!
- In spite of our understanding
- to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.
- Works of faith
John 9:40-41 NKJV Then some of the Pharisees who were with Him heard these words, and said to Him, “Are we blind also?” [41] Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say, ‘We see.’ Therefore your sin remains.
- Don’t pretend to see
- No rituals, but a relationship
The Holy Spirit builds that relationship with God
That relationship with God requires the Holy Spirit
- Grace: We study God’s Word to renew our minds and convince ourselves of the fact that God loves us.
- We need to go to church to keep our hearts from being hardened.
- We don’t have to study the Word to get God to love us
Hebrews 12:2 NKJV looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
- Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith
Acts 1:8 NKJV But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
- power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you
John 14:26 NKJV But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.
All we have to do is ask
Luke 11:13 NKJV If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”