Credit Only
For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law. Romans 3:28
Apart From – There’s a restaurant in Mount Dora, Florida, where patrons pay whatever they feel the meal is worth. You decide what you want to pay. If you don’t like it, you don’t pay at all. People are astounded, but the owner is quite happy. It seems that most people really do pay for what they get. God takes this idea one step further. In the covenant community, God does not accept cash at all. Wherever you go in the Kingdom of God, the only legal tender is credit, but only one kind of credit is valid, and you can’t earn that either.
Most of us couldn’t imagine going into a store that refused cash. The sign at the register reads, “Sorry. Special Credit Only.” You’re shocked. “Do you mean that you won’t take my money?” “Yes,” the clerk replies, “we don’t accept currency in any form. We only take one kind of credit.” “What’s that?” you ask. “Well, the only credit we take in this store is the credit given to you by the owner. You see, he’s the only one who has a right to purchase, so, if he doesn’t buy the item and give it to you, you simply can’t get it.”
That’s the idea behind Paul’s statement that we are justified by faith alone. We’ve heard this reformation phrase so often that we might not realize just how radical it really is. It’s just as shocking as going to a store that won’t accept any form of your earnings. Paul presses us toward this conclusion with the use of the Greek preposition, choris. It means, “separately or without.” Paul argues that our justification comes by faith, separate from and without works. No matter how good you are, no matter how much effort you present to God, it is worthless when it comes to reconciliation. God only takes credit, and the only credit He takes is the credit He gives.
When we have that firmly in mind, we need to rethink our understanding of the Old Testament sacrificial system. Paul tells us quite plainly that God’s “credit only” policy has never changed. Abraham’s trust in God is based in exactly the same credit as my trust in God. That’s why Genesis 15:6 says that God credited righteousness to Abraham. All of the Old Testament relationships with the covenant God are credit-only relationships. The purpose of the sacrifices was never to placate God, to earn His favor or to demonstrate worthiness. In fact, the very existence of a sacrifice is based on the idea that men will fail. If I could earn righteousness, sacrifice would be unnecessary, wouldn’t it? Since the Old Testament relationship to God is filled with sacrifices, it’s pretty clear that Old Testament men and women knew that their human efforts were inadequate. Paul isn’t saying anything new here. He is simply reminding his audience that God’s policy has always been “credit only”.
Of course, men and women have always distorted this truth. In ancient Israel, in first century Palestine and even today, people often act as though they can present their obedience and efforts and assets as credit before God. They’re wrong. God’s economic policy isn’t like ours. Work comes as a result of credit, not as an attempt to get credit. Isn’t that a relief? God chooses you in order that you might obey Him, not because you did obey Him.
Topical Index: Righteousness
