Accounting and Salvation
What does accounting have to do with salvation? That is a very good question. The answer is that Paul was inspired by the Holy Spirit to explain salvation to us using an accounting term. (Romans 4:3) In fact, Moses was the first one to be inspired to use this analogy, and Paul was quoting him to make his point. (Genesis 15:6) I believe everyone will benefit from understanding this verse and the point of Romans 4.
Each of us has an account with our Creator, God. We are all born with a sinful nature, and at some point we choose to sin. (Romans 3:23) Then, we have deposited unrighteousness into our account. That sin separates us from God. There is nothing we can add to our account to pay for that unrighteousness. Only God can remedy our account deficit. When we put our trust in Christ as our Lord and Savior, God deposits His righteousness into our account. That is what enables us to be right with God. It is not by our works or by being good. It is only by the gift of God credited to our account when we trust Him like Abraham did. (Romans 4:20-25)
The Bible is clear from Genesis to Revelation. Faith comes first. We must believe first. Then, God accounts it to us for righteousness. He credits our account with His righteousness. It is His marvelous gift. It is salvation by grace through faith. Praise God for His accounting. Without Him none of us could ever be righteous before Him.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Romans 5-7.
Each of us has an account with our Creator, God. We are all born with a sinful nature, and at some point we choose to sin. (Romans 3:23) Then, we have deposited unrighteousness into our account. That sin separates us from God. There is nothing we can add to our account to pay for that unrighteousness. Only God can remedy our account deficit. When we put our trust in Christ as our Lord and Savior, God deposits His righteousness into our account. That is what enables us to be right with God. It is not by our works or by being good. It is only by the gift of God credited to our account when we trust Him like Abraham did. (Romans 4:20-25)
The Bible is clear from Genesis to Revelation. Faith comes first. We must believe first. Then, God accounts it to us for righteousness. He credits our account with His righteousness. It is His marvelous gift. It is salvation by grace through faith. Praise God for His accounting. Without Him none of us could ever be righteous before Him.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Romans 5-7.