Scripture:

Romans 4:

3 For the Scriptures tell us, “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.”
5 But people are counted as righteous, not because of their work, but because of their faith in God who forgives sinners.
9 Now, is this blessing only for the Jews, or is it also for uncircumcised Gentiles?  Well, we have been saying that Abraham was counted as righteous by God because of his faith.
11 Circumcision was a sign that Abraham already had faith and that God had already accepted him and declared him to be righteous—even before he was circumcised. So Abraham is the spiritual father of those who have faith but have not been circumcised. They are counted as righteous because of their faith.
12 And Abraham is also the spiritual father of those who have been circumcised, but only if they have the same kind of faith Abraham had before he was circumcised.  So Abraham is the spiritual father of those who have faith but have not been circumcised. They are counted as righteous because of their faith.
13 Clearly, God’s promise to give the whole earth to Abraham and his descendants was based not on his obedience to God’s law, but on a right relationship with God that comes by faith.
14 If God’s promise is only for those who obey the law, then faith is not necessary and the promise is pointless.
16 So the promise is received by faith. It is given as a free gift. And we are all certain to receive it, whether or not we live according to the law of Moses, if we have faith like Abraham’s. For Abraham is the father of all who believe
19 And Abraham’s faith did not weaken.
20 Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God.
22 And because of Abraham’s faith, God counted him as righteous.

Observation:

Fourteen times Paul mentions the word faith in Romans 4.  Is he making a point?  I think so.  Justification comes by what?  Faith alone.  In Christ alone.  Paul knows that if he begins with Abraham that maybe the Jews will listen.  Their spiritual father didn’t try to earn his way into God’s favor…and neither should they.

And neither should we.

Application:

Sadly…even those of us who follow Christ still live as if we believe this.  That there is something we still need to do to earn salvation.  Let’s make it fifteen times:  faith alone.
Good news…”He (Jesus) is strong enough to save us, no matter how weak our faith is.”  You can trust that…and accept his free gift of salvation.  That’s true faith.

Nothing you can DO about that.

Prayer:

Praise God for his salvation…By grace, through faith, in Christ alone!  Thank you Jesus!