Once known as “the Land of Saints and Scholars,” the attitude toward church and religion in Ireland has changed in the last thirty years. When I was growing up, Ireland was a highly religious country. however, many Irish people, both in the past and today, have been confused about how to attain righteousness before God.
Nobody would have blamed Abraham if he had felt the same. After all, he’d had a personal calling from God, he acted in obedience, he set aside time to worship God, he showed kindness to his family and neighbors, and he gave a tenth of his possessions to God. Anyone seeing Abraham’s life would have assumed those things made him righteous before God.
The truth is, none of these things made Abraham righteous. It was Abraham’s faith that made him righteous.
Coming from a tradition of ritual righteousness, I’ve often struggled to believe that faith alone can save me. I’ve believed God’s promises over my life, acted in obedience, repented from my sin, worshiped God, been charitable to others, and given back to God. Yet none of these things have earned me righteous standing before God. None of these things earn me a place in heaven or restore my righteousness. Righteousness comes through faith in God alone.
God desires our faith, not our works. He wants our hearts to be aligned with Him, and after that our actions will follow.
Suzie,
Ireland
