Rev. Don Campbell
God Does Not Keep a Balance Sheet
Because the Scripture says, “The law came by Moses, but grace and truth by Jesus Christ” (John 1:17), some believe that there was no grace under the Law and that there is no law under grace. No so: “If you, O LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared” (Psalms130:3-4, ESV).
God forgave penitent sinners under the Law, but not as a matter of the Law. David is the greatest example. His adultery with Bathsheba and the murder of her husband warranted the death sentence, as he, himself, said (2 Samuel 12:5).
But hear Paul: “David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works: ‘Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin’” (Romans 4:6-8).
If God kept a balance sheet of our good works and our sins, no one could stand. But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness, (Romans 4:5, NASB).
