How many of you believe that your success depends on how hard you work on something?
For example: You want good grades at school (to please your teacher, parents, get a scholarship,
be on the high honor role, do better than others) and so you work as hard as you can by paying attention in class, doing your school work on time and as well as you can? When I was in college, my room mate did that. He always paid attention in class, studied for hours for tests, made sure
that the spelling and punctuation on his assignments were just right.

Or maybe you are someone who strives to be the best you can be at sports. And so you practice,learn the plays, condition your body, and work hard so that you can do well.

Or maybe you are a perfectionist at work. You are always on time, do your work to the best of your ability, strive to please your boss, volunteer for special assignments, and believe that the harder you work, the more you will get paid and advance in your profession.

Or maybe you are the type of person who loves to compete in contests. You do your best to produce something that the judges will just wow over so that you can win first place.

In many cases what Paul wrote to the Romans about almost 2000 years still stands true today.
“4Now when a man works, his wages are not credited to him as a gift, but as an obligation.

In other words, the harder we work, the better the rewards we should receive. Hard work,dedication, commitment, excellence and all qualities that should be and are rewarded by others. And we can gain a certain amount of satisfaction in doing a job and doing it well. The high school
senior who receives awards and special recognition can be proud of his or her accomplishments. The employee of the month can take special satisfaction in what they have done. The ribbons,awards,accommo- dations, praise you have received from others because you have used your talent and ability to your best. We aren’t to be lazy, sloths, who just lie around or entertain
ourselves all the time.

However, this truism in regard to work does not apply to religion. (Although there have always been those who have tried to make it so.) St. Paul wrote to the Romans in order to correct a very dangerous false belief that many people had then and still have today in spite of the Bible teaching
otherwise. What was that false teaching?

People believed that they were right with God because of what they had done. They believed that they had kept God’s commandments good enough so that they had earned heaven. Even today many unwitting Christians think that the number of times they go to church, the amount of money
they give, or who their family is should have some impact on what God gives to them. But what does the Bible teach?

We are Justified by Faith

1What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather, discovered in this matter?
2If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about—but not before God. 3What does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”
4Now when a man works, his wages are not credited to him as a gift, but as an obligation. 5However, to the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness.

In the first three chapters of Romans Paul makes it very clear that it is impossible to be right with God (justified) by works. Read through it this week and see again that “There is no one righteous, not even one.” This was not a new teaching. The way to please God is exemplified already by Abraham almost 2000 years before Jesus and 4000 years ago. God considered him righteous by faith.

Abraham was a man of faith. God had called him from the Haran to travel hundreds of miles to a foreign land. God promised him that this new land would become his
descendants and that he would have descendants by the millions. Also that he would be the father of many nations. Although Abraham had no proof and God did not require that he do anything to
earn this, Abraham believed God. In faith he moved to the land of Canaan and trusted that he and his childless, aging wife, would have a child. God considered Abraham righteous by his faith in God. It was not by law but by faith that these promises were realized.

Romans 4:13 through Romans 4:17
13It was not through law that Abraham and his offspring received the promise that he would be heir of the world, but through the righteousness that comes by faith. 14For if those who live by law are heirs, faith has no value and the promise is worthless, 15because law brings wrath. And where
there is no law there is no transgression.
16Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring—not only to those who are of the law but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all. 17As it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.” He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed—the God who gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they were.

How does this apply to us today? God has made some very important promises to you.
You will live in a land of the promise–heaven.
You will be forgiven (in fact, already are) for all of your sins against God.
God will be your Father and will defend you from danger, guard and protect you from evil, work out everything to your good.
Because Jesus lives you will also live.
You are right with God. He does not count your sins against you or treat you as your sins deserve.

Why? Because you have been such a good Christian? Because you came to church this morning? Because you will receive the Lord’s Supper today? Because you give more money to church this year than last year? Because you serve on a committee? Because you pray, read your Bible,haven’t been arrested, don’t bad mouth others? Because of what you had done?

No. Just as Abraham was not justified by what he had done, so too the Christian is not justified by what they do but by faith.

Ephesians 2:8 through Ephesians 2:9
8For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—9not by works, so that no one can boast.

There is only one way to heaven and that is through faith in what God’s Son, Jesus, has already done for us. By faith in him we receive all that he has won for us on the cross. Do not put your faith in your works or even in your faith, put your faith in Jesus and you can be sure of God’s promises being fulfilled in your life.

Does this mean that we don’t have to do anything? Does this mean that we can sit back and ignore obedience to God’s commands, taking an active role in the work of the church, using God’s word and sacraments, praying, giving etc. Recall what James had to say about Abraham if you have been duped into believing that true faith does not produce works: James 2:14ff
14What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? 15Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. 16If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs,
what good is it? 17In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. 18But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.”
Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do. 19You believe
that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.
20You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless ? 21Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. 23And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and
it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend. 24You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone.