Romans 4:1-8 KJV 1 What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? 2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. 3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. 4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. 5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. 6 Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, 7 Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. 8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.

Who is your friend, but the one that can forgive the past. Righteousness comes by faith. Righteousness means the state of being approved by God. Are you on God's approval list. Most of us if we examined ourselves completely would not perhaps make the list by our actions or at the least our thoughts. Our humanity would keep us from being approved by God. Our humanity of sinful thoughts or ways, despite we choose to believe in God. This sounds contradictory. After all if one is saved then our strive is to live unto Jesus, to live according to God's will for our life, to live as a new creation because we are no longer living for sin but are dead to sin through Christ death and resurrection. Yet I say as a believer I still fail. Of course I am still in human flesh with human needs and wants. The chocolate cake is very tempting by itself, but one piece seems harmless. No that one piece everyday is just as harmful as the whole cake. Why because of the calorie count of the one slice. It means extra mile in the gym. No it is example how gluttony alone is sin, but the sin of the first bite is just as harmful. Our unrighteous behavior can be our downfall in our relationship with God. Yet it is not one act of sin that causing the unapproved state, it is the continual sin. The first bite of the fruit from the tree of good and evil. Was not the only sin committed by Eve, but it continued when she offered the fruit to Adam. It continued when they hide because of their nakeness. What if Eve temptation had only caused her to take one bite of forbidden fruit, would God had punished her as severely. Eve took her sin and shared it with her husband. Our humanity of being disapproved by God, did not begin with one sin but continual sin. Continual sin that caused us to want to hide the sin if we could. To hide who we truly are before God. To try and hide our transgression. Abraham through obedience was never consider righteous, his righteousness came through faith, but his friendship came through obedience. Eve sin caused her enmity toward the serpent. Caused her to no longer a friend to the serpent. Now stop for a moment think Adam cast out to for only two sins by taking the fruit from Eve and eating it. Eve had gluttony when it came to sinning. First sin was listening to the serpent, 2 was eating of the fruit that was forbidden, 3 giving the fruit to Adam and 4th sin was trying to hide her sin. Adam only sin was eating the fruit and then trying to hide the fact he had. No matter the size of the sin, it still got Adam and Eve on God's disapproval list. They were no longer welcome in his house, but was still in God's kingdom. After all the earth is God's footstool. The issue Eve would have with God would change when she had Cain. She would declare God gave her a son. Had Eve learned the cost of sin through the pain she bore having Cain. She bore the sin of being cast out of heaven, but also the pain of child birth. At what point did enmity stop between God and Eve. Did God approve of Eve, scripture never says if Eve was ever forgiven. Yet we know she understood the gift of life was from God. Not sure why I am so stuck on the fall from God's love, can man after salvation fall from God's love. There is a verse that says what can take you away from the love of God? The conclusion of the verse is nothing can take you away from the love of God. God still was there for Adam and Eve. It is our own fault separation occurs between God and ourselves. Faith and salvation comes by way of believing in who God is but also believing God enough to know God's way is best for us despite our humanity and choosing to obey. Our works is our obedience to God and our belief brings our approval. By believing sin is no longer imputeth/ or counted against oneself. Yet if God loved Adam and Eve, why then was their sin counted against them for punishment, because the sacrifice of sin had not yet come in the flesh. Without the blood covering of Christ, without Christ act of dying on the cross, without Christ being buried, and without the resurrection there was no payment for sin, beyond the sacrificial law which apparently was taught to Cain and Abel. The sin of one man and woman being paid for by the sacrificial law to re enter heaven. Imagine being in a jail cell only for your debt to be paid and you can now re enter paradise. Sin debt is paid but one can not enter in the pearly gates without approval. You can not get out of jail without approval. How is approval gained through belief in Jesus and obedience to Christ. After all did not holy men of old rise from the grave when Christ died? Yes read Matthew. Abraham because of faith would be called righteous(approved by God) but his obedience caused him to be a friend of God. Abraham obeyed God through going in search of the Promise Land, through circumcision, and putting Isaac on the altar. Abraham lack of faith came with the idea in old age Sarah his wife would conceive, after all he laughed, but He still trusted God's ability. Yet he was still tempted by obedience to Sarah to take her handmaiden. Lack of faith will cause separation. And even one oops is still an oops of separation. But upon salvation comes grace, for God is just to forgive all our transgression, the Bible says. The sin God does not hold you accountable for is an act of God's marvelous grace. When a believer comes to terms one is free from the guilt of sin, that sin no longer holds any power, the torch of guilt is laid aside between God and oneself. The war between God and man is over because of the cross, if only man will believe. Our works can not save us, but our works are a demonstration of our faith. Dear Heavenly Father thank you for the ability to be forgiven of sin upon belief in Christ Jesus my Lord and Savior. Continue to remind us of our freedom from the act and guilt of sin, in Jesus precious name, Amen. Continual Scripture Study for Devotion:James 2:23 KJV And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. http://www.turtle30cshell.com