For us also

Now it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him, but also for us. It shall be imputed to us who believe in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, who was delivered up because of our offences  and was raised because of our justification. – Romans 4.23-25

There was no better example for Paul to use than Abraham when writing to the Jews. Abraham was their Patriarch. He was their father. He was their national and spiritual hero. If the Jews had built monuments Abraham’s would have been right in the centre.

So Paul pointed to Abraham’s example. Abraham’s righteousness was imputed to him by faith. Imputed is a great word here. It means that the righteousness of Christ was reckoned to Abraham’s account by faith. He was still a sinner. He was still guilty. But he was reckoned righteous by his faith in Christ.

But it was not only for him, Paul writes. It was also for all of us who believe because Christ was delivered up because of our offences.

Why did Jesus go to the cross? Because of our sins.

He went to the cross because none of us are worthy to claim righteousness for ourselves and because no one is righteous. He was delivered to the cross because I am a sinner.

Sin is nothing to be trifled with. We are justified freely but it cost Jesus everything.

How dare we take a light view of sin