That's A Big If

For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God.  Romans 4:2

Indeed if we take that big 'if' and run with it, it changes everything in this life and reduces our hope of eternal life. For the first, our life becomes one of chasing good works for the purpose of justifying ourselves alone and refusing to accept the salvation of Christ. Sounds a lot like what they had under the old covenant. Second, without that salvation, we only have a hope based on each one's strength to do those good works. As most of us know by now, strength fades with age, patience can be harder to come by, and love a little colder as the difficulties of life accumulate. It would be a great shame to come to the end of this life with no strength left for the good works that we had hoped to use as justification. However, we know that Paul goes on from this verse to show that salvation and justification are in Christ alone, by faith and not by works. Our hope of eternal life remains safely in the Lord's Christ.

No big if, just faith in Jesus!

Bucky