Romans 4 | Finding the Gospel in the Bible

It is important to me that I see with Gospel lenses... What could be more important than seeing and reading the Bible the way God intends... Remember how Paul points us to things of first importance? In 1 Corinthians 15:3 he says, "For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures." And Jesus emphasizes that point by saying, "You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me" (John 5:39). All of scripture is meant to lead us to the Gospel, namely Jesus himself.

In Romans 4, Paul wants us to understand that very fact:

The words, "it was credited to him" were not for him alone, but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness--for us who believe in him who raised Jesus from the dead. He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification" (Romans 4:23-25).

These words were written for you. "The words, "it was credited to him" were not for him alone, but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness (4:23,24 emphasis added)" They were written so that you can see, feel, and experience the truth that God credits to your account the righteousness of Jesus, if you will but believe. All of Scripture push in on you to make an appeal, "do you believe that God justifies the wicked?" Do you read the Bible as an instruction manual for moral living? Or do you see it for what it truly is; the story of God come down, delivered over to death, crucified for sins, and raised to life for our justification? Do you see Jesus as you hold the Bible?... I do... and it makes my soul leap for joy!