July 7 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading

Devotional

The gospel is new. It was revealed with the coming of Christ—no sooner. However, "new" in the Bible means that the "old" is fulfilled—not abolished. When we buy a new car, the old one goes. But when God brings a New Testament or a new covenant or a new commandment or a new earth, the old is fulfilled in the new, as the seed is fulfilled in the plant or the child in the mature person.

Thus the gospel is not a complete break with the Old Testament. In fact, Paul shows that the gospel of righteousness by faith clarifies the way of salvation that was revealed in the Old Testament.

The relationship between God and Abraham was not an employer/employee relationship. If it had been, Abraham would have had rights and earnings. Instead, God came to Abraham with a promise, and Abraham had to respond with faith. For us the situation is essentially the same. We must respond to God's promise by faith.

Righteousness was obtained and is obtained by believing—not by working. When God credited righteousness to Abraham, it was not because Abraham had earned enough merit points or because he was really righteous. The righteousness was credited or imputed to Abraham when he believed.

And that's the way justification by faith works. We are not justified because we are good. God justifies the ungodly. The goodness of Christ is imputed to them when they believe. The merit points of Christ are written on the account of believing sinners by the God who justifies the ungodly.

Justification is not something that occurs within us; it is a legal work of God. God gives us the credits of Jesus. Christians are living off someone else's righteousness. When I look at myself, I cannot see if justification has really happened. I must look at Christ. In him I am righteous—by faith.

REFLECTIONS

What does it mean to you to be "justified by faith"? What difference does believing this key teaching make in your life?

Andrew Kuyvenhoven's Daylight, a modern devotional classic, was originally published by Paideia Press in 1977. This updated edition is copyright 2009 by Faith Alive Christian Resources. You can order a copy of this revised version of the book directly from the publisher.

A man of many accomplishments, Andrew Kuyvenhoven is probably best known for his contributions to Today (formerly The Family Altar), a widely-used monthly devotional booklet associated with the Back to God Hour. Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations for this updated edition of Daylight are from the Holy Bible: Today's New International Version copyright 2001, 2005 by the International Bible Society.