Romans 4:4-5

Devotional Thoughts

By David Wilkerson

I want to ask all believers: Are you struggling to gain victory by your willpower? Are you fighting the battle in your old nature? Paul points out, “Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt. But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness” (Romans 4:4-5).

Beloved, settle this truth in your heart: That old man simply can’t help you against the enemy. Your victory must come not through weeping or striving but by faith that Jesus Christ has won the battle for you. Indeed, Paul says there is only one condition attached to God’s promises: “If indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister” (Colossians 1:23).

Christ, the last Adam, demonstrates that the result of a firm faith is love. “Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world” (1 John 4:17). John is saying, “The Father’s love for you is secure. Now, follow Jesus’ example.” Christ lived his entire life on earth wholly dependent on the Father. Passage after passage shows him healing people, working miracles and performing wonders, but according to his own testimony, he said and did nothing without consulting his Father: “The Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner” (John 5:19).

Christ surrendered everything to his Father to be a totally obedient Son. We are to do likewise, becoming totally dependent on the Father just as he was. The problem is that so many Christians spend their days straining to break the power of sin over their lives. Many have grown weary of striving in their flesh and are giving up on their marriage, on their faith, on any hope of ever being free. Many have told me, “I’m in a living hell. The Lord didn’t prove himself real to me. I prayed for years, but he never set me free.”

Whenever I hear this, I always turn back to God’s many promises to us, promises to keep us from falling, to break every chain, to set every captive free, to crush Satan’s dominion, to dwell in us and give us resurrection life daily. These promises convince me that the Father didn’t send the last Adam in vain, and the last Adam, Jesus, didn’t die in vain. I tell you, if faith in Christ’s victory on the cross isn’t enough—if it isn’t a victory for every child of God—then Christ’s death was in vain. It’s that simple.

Do you trust his Spirit to keep you?  When the enemy comes in like a flood, make this your prayer: “Lord, by your grace and mercy, you have placed me in Christ. In your eyes, I no longer have any part in the old Adam, and he no longer has any power over me. I now appear before you clean and holy, by my faith in Jesus’ work for me. I’m weak, but you said your Holy Spirit would empower me. I submit to you now, knowing you have made every provision.” Amen.