Romans 4:1-5 - Daily Devotion - 24 June 2026

St Barnabas Anglican Church Fairfield & Bossley Park

1 What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather, has discovered? 2 If Abraham was indeed justified by works, he had something to boast about, but not before God. 3 For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”

4 Now the wages of the worker are not credited as a gift, but as an obligation. 5 However, to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness.

REFLECTIONS

Written by Gus Cameron

Last week someone was very excited to tell me that they got Netflix free with their electricity plan and, to be honest, I love free things too. I think everyone does! The alternative is to work hard for something, and who wants to do that if they don’t have to?

But when it comes to our righteousness before God, strangely, so many people seem to find it too hard to accept that it is God’s gift, not earned by works but received by faith. Paul continues to prove that it is indeed by faith, this time by using Abraham as an example.

In Genesis 15, God promised Abraham countless descendants, and we are told there that “Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness” (Genesis 15:6). What did Abraham do? He believed or trusted God. And what did he receive? God credited, or gave him, righteousness.

If that’s what God did for Abraham, it makes no sense to change the equation for us. But that’s what people do. They want to say, “I worked, I did these things, I made myself good, so God should pay me righteousness – I’m entitled to it!” But that’s not what God is offering. He has given us the gift of Jesus Christ, and he says, “Trust me, and I’ll give you righteousness that you don’t deserve as a free gift!”

It’s such a good deal, it really is too good to refuse. Pray that God would help us be like Abraham and believe God. If you’re struggling to accept God’s gift, ask God to help you humbly accept it. If you have friends who are stuck trying to earn their righteousness, pray for them now and speak to them about why it really is the best free gift ever.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Gus is one of our Assistant Ministers.