Let us examine the scriptures every day 2025
Monday February 24, 2025
Everyone has sin (Rom. 3:23).
In his Letter to the Romans, Paul said that all human beings are sinners. How is it possible that God is happy with us and considers us righteous? Paul used the example of Abraham to help all sincere Christians answer that question. Jehovah declared Abraham righteous when he lived in Canaan. Why was it that he declared it fair? It was not because Abraham perfectly obeyed the Law of Moses (Rom. 4:13). How do we know? Because the nation of Israel received that Law more than 400 years later. So why did Jehovah declare Abraham righteous? Jehovah showed him undeserved kindness and declared him righteous for his faith (Rom. 4:2-4). w23.12 3 paras. 4, 5.
Why did Jehovah declare Abraham righteous? (Romans 4:2-4).
Jehovah declared Abraham righteous when he lived in Canaan. Why was it that he declared it fair? It was not because Abraham perfectly obeyed the Law of Moses (Rom. 4:13). How do we know? Because the nation of Israel received that Law more than 400 years later. So why did Jehovah declare Abraham righteous? Jehovah showed him undeserved kindness and declared him righteous because of his faith. (Read Romans 4:2-4.)
Why does Jehovah declare a sinner righteous?
Right after, Paul explained that when someone puts his faith in God, “he is considered righteous because of his faith” (Rom. 4:5). And he added: “David also speaks of the happiness of the man whom God considers righteous but not because of his works: 'Happy are those whose bad things they have done have been forgiven and whose sins have been covered; happy is the man whose sin Jehovah will in no way hold against him’” (Rom. 4:6-8; Ps. 32:1, 2). God completely covers or forgives the sins of people who put their faith in him; It no longer takes them into account. Jehovah views such people as righteous and blameless because of their faith.
In what sense were God's servants of the past righteous?
Although Abraham, David, and other faithful servants of God were declared righteous, they remained imperfect and sinful. But because of their faith, God considered them blameless, especially compared to people who did not worship Him (Eph. 2:12). In his Letter to the Romans, Paul makes it clear that to be friends of Jehovah it is essential to have faith. So it was with Abraham and David, and the same can be said for us.
What wrong conclusion have some reached, and why?
For centuries, leaders of different Churches of Christendom have had a highly contentious debate about the relationship between faith and works. Some claim that to achieve salvation it is enough to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. Perhaps we have heard the phrase “Accept Jesus and you will be saved.” These religious leaders may be referring to Romans 4:6, where Paul speaks of “a man whom God considers righteous, but not because of his works.” On the other hand, others teach that to be saved you must make a pilgrimage to certain sacred places and do good works. Perhaps they rely on what James 2:24 says: “A man becomes declared righteous by his works and not by his faith alone.”
In view of these very different beliefs, some Bible scholars have concluded that Paul and James had different views on faith and works. They affirm that Paul thought that it was enough to have faith to obtain God's approval but that James believed that one had to have works. One theologian explained: “James did not understand why Paul was so insistent that someone is declared righteous through faith alone and not through works.” But both Paul and James were writing under inspiration from Jehovah (2 Tim. 3:16). In reality, there is a very simple explanation to understand what each one said. To see what it is, let's analyze the context of his words.
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