If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about – but not before God. What does the Scripture say? ‘Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.’

A few years ago singer/ songwriter Kenny Rogers captured the essence of the dream that lives in every little child. It is same dream that in one form or another has lived in all of us who were and may still be children at heart. He wrote the song about a little boy’s dream of playing baseball, being a major leaguer. Maybe that was your dream or maybe it was being a singer or movie star, maybe it was to be an adventurer or the one who saves the day, maybe it was to fly airplanes or for once be the smartest kid in class. It is a song about hopes and dreams, about being great; it is entitled “I am the Greatest.”

In it the little boy is out in the backyard by himself playing an entire ball game, bat and ball in hand. He announces to the world that he’s the greatest hitter that ever was and tossing the ball in the air in comes the first pitch - the ball goes up; the bat comes round, “strike one.” Not fazed he picks up the ball and again announces that he is the greatest hitter and the pitcher hurls another pitch- up goes the ball up; the bat comes round, “strike two.” With unflappable determination he announces that he is still the greatest hitter to play the game. With that the ball goes up; the bat comes around, “strike three.” …The little boy picks up the ball and announces that he’s the greatest pitcher that has ever played the game.

In our sinfulness we often approach God with much the same attitude. Thinking that we are the greatest or at least not the worst or that our efforts have earned us something before God. In our pridefulness we come before God believing and saying, “God, I’ve lived a good life. I may not be the greatest but, I’ve done more good than bad. If you don’t believe me, just ask. I’ve kept a mental list at least of all the things I’ve deemed good: For the most part I’m honest and upright; I haven’t stolen millions and the only murder I’ve committed has been with my thoughts or my sharp tongue. I haven’t broken the laws, I believe to be important, and I’ve kept most of the commandments a good share of the time. Most of the shameful things I’ve done I’ve done in such a way that most people don’t even know about them. After all, in our Epistle lesson it did say, Now when a man works, his wages are not credited to him as a gift, but as an obligation. Well, when it comes down to it God I’ve worked hard and the way I imagine it, in my way of thinking, You owe me one.” And that “one” is often deliverance from unfairness, or hurt, or an illness. Sometimes it is the expectation of a free ride to heaven. Like the little boy we think more of ourselves than we should. We boast in our deeds and place our faith in them and not God.

Of all this, God has declared that all of our righteous acts are like filthy rags. (Isaiah 64.6) All the good that we do, is tainted by our prideful and sinful hearts. Not one of us is righteous before God by what we’ve done or claimed to have done.

And if it weren’t that way, if it were the we could some how earn heaven then we’d be in a real mess because we’d never be sure if we’d done enough or what we’d done was as good as we thought it was or good enough in God’s eyes. If there was someone who should have done enough to earn a ticket to heaven wouldn’t it have been Abraham. After all, in his old age he gave it all up. Living successfully in what must have been a wonderful estate with great wealth and servants, he packs it all up and moves hundreds of miles away to live in the tents- a stranger in a strange land- because God told him to. He was willing to sacrifice his first born son, a son he and his wife had waited all their lives for. Here is a man who should have had major league things to boast about. Here is a man who should have favors owed him by God. To that end God says, “No,” even to the likes of religious and faithful, Abraham. No, even your works aren’t without flaw or doubt. Not even you by your efforts are righteous in My sight.( Romans 3.10)

It isn’t the quality or quantity of our works that save us but a holy and righteous work that comes from God that saves us, and it is simple faith in that work that has us declared righteous before God. From our Epistle we hear: If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about – but not before God. We know he didn’t have that but What does the Scripture say? ‘Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.’

There it is! Abraham believed God. Abraham looked forward to the promise of a Savior. The One who could do a work on Abraham’s behalf, on our behalf, on behalf of all sinful mankind that would make us acceptable to God. The One who would earn for all of us the forgiveness of our sins- to make us right before God, to be declared righteous.

That One was Jesus. He was the sinless Son of God. Where we sought to make ourselves righteous in God’s sight by our good works, it was one sinful, perfect, untainted work done by a sinless person that God required. God has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in His sight, without blemish and free from accusation. (Col 1.22) Where we dream of greatness before cheering crowds, Jesus died on a cross doing the one great thing before a jeering crowd.

Three days later He rose from the dead, holy and righteous without sin - that is what righteous is - without sin, and Jesus shares that righteousness with all who would believe in Him, what He did on the cross, and by the empty tomb.

By faith Abraham looked forward to all of this and he believed. Because of that belief he was declared righteous. God declared Himself to be for Abraham- God didn’t owe him one but God freely gave Him one, that one was to be forgiven of his sins and with that forgiveness God gave him life and salvation. And Abraham boasted not in what he had done or what he thought of himself but in Jesus, this Promised One, the King of Kings, the Greatest One.

But what about us? Can we be assured of being declared righteous, being forgiven, knowing that God has declared Himself for us as He did for Abraham? Can we boast in the Lord? The answer is YES! YES! Remember what is said at the end of today’s lesson. Therefore, the promise comes by faith so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham’s’ offspring- not only to those who are of the law but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham- that is you and me and all mankind.

God’s guarantee and declaration for us comes to us in our baptism. There We hear, He saved us by a washing or rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit whom He poured out generously through Jesus Christ so that having been justified by His grace we may become heirs having the hope of eternal life. (Titus 3.5) We see that declaration in the Lord’s Supper- all that is God coming to us in a real way- not us taking hold of Him but He is pleased to take hold of us. He declares us forgiven in the words of absolution. It is the Holy Spirit who creates in us real and lasting faith for it is written it is He who has begun this good work in you and it is He who carries it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. (Phil 1.6)

All around are people who think more highly of themselves than they should when it comes to the things of God. They boast and brag and apart from the working of the Holy Spirit so would we. They need to hear of the One who truly was the greatest- the One who came from heaven to live for us, die for us and rise again to life for us. By believing in Him they, like us, will truly have something to boast about. “Let me tell you about my Jesus and all He has done for us.” Amen