RIGHTEOUSNESS IMPUTED WITHOUT WORKS
By Alonzo G. Daniells
"Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works." Rom. 4:6. MUCH has been said and written about the imputation of the righteousness of God to men. Yet the subject is not exhausted. Nor is the question an antiquated one. It is as fresh, as pertinent, and as full of interest to-day as it has ever been. And thanks be to God, He is still imputing His righteousness to all who will receive it in His appointed way. No man by nature possesses the righteousness of God. Says Paul, "There is none righteous, no, not one." Rom. 3:10. "All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." Verse 23. All sin is unrighteousness. 1 John 5:17. Thus we are taught that man not only does not possess God's righteousness, but that he is filled with all unrighteousness. IMPUTED BY LOVE AND CREATIVE POWER
Now the imputation of God's righteousness to men who are by nature all unrighteousness is a wonderful thing. It is a manifestation of clemency, of grace, which none but our heavenly Father, who is love, would show. And it is so great an act that none but God, who has creative power, can perform it. A FREE GIFT — NOT BY WORKS
The only way that any one can obtain the righteousness of God is to receive it by faith as a free gift. But few of the great masses who have lived have been willing to receive it in this way. In all ages men have endeavored to obtain it by works — a thing that can never be done. This fact is thus stated by the apostle Paul: "Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumbling-stone." Rom. 9:31, 32. This attempt on the part of the Jews to become righteous by works was simply an attempt to establish their own righteousness, which was nothing but unrighteousness. Paul says, "For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God." Rom. 10:3. "By the works of the law shall no flesh be accounted righteous in His sight." Rom. 3:20, R.V., margin. Paul says that if Abraham had been made righteous by works, he would have had "whereof to glory; but not toward God." "Abraham believed God, and it [his faith] was counted unto him for righteousness." Rom. 4:2, 3. THE FAITH THAT BRINGS RIGHTEOUSNESS
The faith by which Abraham was made righteous is the faith which all must exercise in order to become righteous. That faith is so simple that all may exercise it. It is set before us by the apostle in these words: "And being fully persuaded that, what He had promised, He was able also to perform. And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness." Rom. 4:21, 22. To this the apostle adds the following: "Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; but for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on Him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead." Rom. 4:23, 24. Let us, then, believe that God is able to perform what He has promised, that His righteousness may be imputed to us.
A. G. D.