Key Verse: Romans 4:5 

“But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness.” 

Unfortunately there are a great deal of people who believe that salvation is attained either through works alone or works and faith in Christ combined. This has always been the case, and is one of the reasons why all throughout the book of Romans Paul seeks to set the record straight. In some of the churches in Rome there were some Jewish people who thought that circumcision was required for salvation, and how keeping the law was required for salvation. So for nearly three full chapters, Paul reiterates that salvation is through faith and faith alone. Notice what he says in Romans 4:5, “But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness.” The big thing we need see here is that salvation, right standing with God, is not based upon our works. The one who is saved, is not the one who works, but rather the one who believes. This means the following: Baptism doesn’t save you, sharing the gospel doesn’t save you, going to church doesn’t save you, reading your Bible doesn’t save you, ONLY FAITH IN WHAT CHRIST DID ON THE CROSS BRINGS SALVATION FROM SIN AND HELL. These other things I mentioned, they are deeds that you and I called to do, and if we don’t do these things we are certainly sinning against God! I would even argue that if one doesn’t do any of these things there’s a chance they may not know God, because real faith produces action. James says this is James 2:14-26. Works, prove the faith, they don’t save you. By getting baptized, attending church, sharing the gospel, and reading God’s Word you are proving that your faith is genuine, but it is faith and faith alone that results in salvation! Romans 3:21-23 says, “But the righteousness of God apart form the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe.”

Friends, if are salvation was determined by what we do, God would not receive all the glory, and we could also never do enough to attain righteousness. Praise be to God that salvation is based upon not what we do, but upon what Jesus Christ has done. Our salvation is accomplished through the perfect sacrifice He made on the cross. The blood of Jesus is all it took to provide salvation for mankind. All man must do is respond through FAITH to the gracious gift of salvation that God has offered. If you’ve never put your faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus then do it today. Do what Paul writes in Romans 10:9-10, “that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” If you will do this then heaven is your destination, and God will give you a life of purpose here on this earth. Let’s worship him today for so great a salvation!