Justified & Walking by Faith - Genesis 15:1-6; Luke 12:22-34

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[Read Genesis 15:1-6; Luke 12:22-34]

Justified and Walking by Faith

Both abundance and need have their temptations.

On our own, facing need – having less today than what I will need tomorrow – makes us anxious and fearful. This fear sometimes leads to rash or shortsighted decisions, not thinking things through calmly or clearly. We fear the worst scenarios our imagination can dream up.

On the other hand, when we have plenty, we may forget we need God at all. Yet our earthly goods never satisfy; we still feel that more will be needed – “He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income.” [Ecclesiastes 5:10]  

Both need and abundance leave us in a similar place: Anxious about the future. I won’t have what is needed for tomorrow. I might lose what I’ve already gained. And it won’t be enough.

Ultimately, the secret to calm and contentment is knowing our standing with God. God is almighty; “the earth is His and everything in it” [Psalm 24:1]; He gives, and He takes away [Job 1:21].

Will God be to me tomorrow a Judge who gives what my deeds, which have fallen short, deserve [Romans 3:23]? Or will He be to me a Father who has compassion on His children when they fall short [Psalm 103:13]?

The Apostle Paul was able to say about himself, “I have learned, in whatever situation I am, to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need” [Philippians 4:11-12].

The Apostle Paul could be content in every circumstance – and face abundance and need – because he knew that he was justified by faith in Christ alone, not by his own works or deeds [Titus 3:5]. He neither feared what he lacked nor trusted in what he gained. His confidence was in God’s steadfast love which He had in Christ.

Justified by faith. That’s your standing with God. Biblically speaking, to be “justified” is “to be counted righteous to God.” We might say, “to be made right with God.” How am I right with God? How is a sinner counted righteous in God’s eyes?

As we saw in our Old Testament reading [Genesis 15:1-6], the man Abraham was justified by faith. God made a promise to Abraham: A son through his old, barren wife, Sarah – both she and Abraham were as good as dead, according to their age.

Yet God promised Abraham a son through her – and many descendants through that son – as many as the stars in the sky, if you could count them.

Most importantly, God promised one specific Offspring through those descends [Genesis 22:18; Galatians 3:16]. The Christ, the Messiah. The Savior of the world, who would be called “Jesus” [Matthew 1:21].

Abraham believed God’s promise about the coming Christ who would be his offspring. Regarding Abraham’s faith in that promise, our reading says “Abraham believed the Lord, and the Lord counted it to him as righteousness” [Genesis 15:6]. Abraham was justified by faith.

The Apostle Paul quotes this verse from Genesis twice in the New Testament where we are taught all the more clearly that we are justified by faith in Christ alone:

“Does He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith — just as Abraham ‘believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness’? Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham.” [Galatians 3:5-7]

“For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? ‘Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.’” To the one who does not rely on his good works “but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness.” [Romans 4:2-5]

This is our Lutheran teaching – “Furthermore, it is taught that we cannot obtain forgiveness of sin and righteousness before God through our merit, work, or satisfactions, but that we receive forgiveness of sins and become righteous before God out of grace for Christ’s sake through faith when we believe that Christ has suffered for us and that for His sake our sin is forgiven and righteousness and eternal life are given to us. For God will regard and reckon this faith as righteousness in His sight.” [Augsburg Confession, Article IV]

What’s the point? The point is this: You do not need to doubt that God will fulfill the promises He has made. You can be certain His good promises are for you – because you have been counted righteous to Him through faith.

“He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him graciously give us all things?” [Romans 8:32]. And, “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” [Romans 5:8].

If God has been so good to you in the biggest things – eternal life and your standing with Him – how would He not also be good to you in earthly things? And because you are deemed righteous in Christ, nothing stands in the way.

So, when you pray, “Give us this day our daily bread,” you can be certain God intends to give you your daily bread – and when you pray, “Thy will be done,” you can be certain that His will for you is His good will – when you pray, “Thy kingdom come,” you can pray it knowing that it is His good pleasure to bring you His kingdom —

— not based on whether you deserve it — but because you are counted righteous to God through faith in what Jesus has done for you on the cross.

When Jesus says in today’s Gospel, “Do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on” – that you are worth more than the birds of the air and grass of the field, for which He cares – and that “Your Father knows” all that you need – you can be certain these words are for you. [Luke 12:22-30]

 Because you are justified by faith, you can now walk in faith. In prosperity, you can keep His commandment to give – “…give to the needy” – seek treasure “in the heavens that does not fail…” – trusting that God’s command is good for you.

                In times of need – any need, of body or soul – you can be certain you have God as Father who has compassion and provides for you, His child. Though you are still a sinner, you are forgiven in Jesus.

                In every circumstance, you can follow Jesus without fear and prioritize His kingdom without anxiety. “Seek His kingdom, and these things will be added to you.” Having been justified by faith, with confidence let us walk in faith. Let us be generous in our prosperity. Let us call upon Him in every time of need. Amen.