A summary of the best deeds of man is given by Isaiah in chapter 64 and verse 6 where he graphically illustrates the best works of man as filthy rags. I wouldn’t have minded rags. BUT FILTHY RAGS?

Paul somewhat re-echoes this when he considered all HE HAD DONE stating that he counted all but dung.

Job showed our utter hopelessness when he said how can a man be cleansed of his ways. He equates man’s tendency to sin to a fish taking in water. Again reminding us that the issue of sin went beyond the proceeds of your hands rather it was about who you were.

I once had a dog, got clothes to put on it. Washed it, trained it to shake and sit. But did it change the fact that it was a dog. No way!! A dog would always be a dog.

It could lick my feet and bring back my lost ball but a dog would always be a dog. It might even be able to save me from drowning but a dog would always be a dog. The best of its actions could not excuse who it was – A dog.

What does the scripture say? We were no better. Sin was our very identity. Read Rom 3:9 – 18

But God who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by Grace ye are saved;) and hath raised us up together and made us sit together in heavenly places with Christ… Eph 2: 4 – 6

But God did something and that is why I am not wearing ashes and sack clothes even as I send this.

And that is what some of you were. But you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the spirit of our God. 1^st Cor. 6:11

For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin – because anyone who has died has been freed from sin. Rom 6:6 – 7

God identified us in the death of Jesus nailing all we were to the cross and the same way Christ rose up never to be nailed again so also we have been given newness of life.

This new life is God’s life in Christ. It characterises the very core of our being.

I can’t wait to tell you that righteousness is not something we try to attain to anymore, it is who we have become. Consider the following:

God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.2^nd Cor. 5:21

For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of one man the many will be made righteous. Rom. 5:19

This is new. So new Romans chapter 4 and verse 6 says that David could only but describe how blessed this person is to whom God would impute righteousness without considering the works of his hands

But doesn’t it matter what I do? Of course it does but realise that an understanding of who God has made me leads me to carry out actions in line with this truth.

How do I achieve this?

Consider Rom 3:20 – 22

This righteousness which is of God comes entirely by believing in Christ Jesus. It is not given in parts rather it came with the package of salvation. He (Christ) was delivered  over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification. Rom 4: 25

It is no wonder that Paul didn’t wait for people to die before declaring them as saints (Rom 1:7, Eph 1:1, 2^nd Cor. 1:1). He was not shy to do so either. He knew what “stuff” they were now made off.

Therefore since we have been justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ…..Rom 5:1

Consider this till we meet again.

– bolaji akanni