Sermon: "Reckoned as Righteous"
The Right Reverend Charles G. vonRosenberg
Third Bishop of East Tennessee

[This sermon by Bishop vonRosenberg was delivered using the following notes.]

This visitation to Grace Church comes at an interesting time for me. Several things have happened recently that serve to focus my own attention especially on this time today. Within the past week, for instance, I shared portions of my spiritual journey, at the invitation of two different congregations. Now, these presentations were sessions of Lenten programs in those churches. Perhaps the clergy and people wanted some reason to feel better about their own spiritual lives, and so, they brought in the bishop to talk about his. But, the point of my telling you this is that the basis for my comments in each case related to our Old Testament lesson today – and to its New Testament reference as well.

Remember, in the reading from Genesis, that God is having a conversation with Abraham, who is still called "Abram" at this stage in his career. Now, at this point, Abraham is well past the age that he might expect to be the father of children. Therefore, he laments the obvious conclusion that he will have no heir, except through a slave woman. Indeed, he makes his sorrow and disappointment about the situation quite clear to God.

In response, God makes a promise to Abraham that is extravagant and outrageous. God says, "Look toward heaven and count the stars, if you are able to count them ... So shall your descendants be" (15:5). Indeed, this promise is so extravagant and so outrageous that it would require nothing less than divine intervention for it to be fulfilled. And that is precisely the point.

Then follows the key verse in this interchange – key, that is, as it applies to our own journeys of faith. "(Abraham) believed the Lord; and the Lord reckoned it to him as righteousness" (15:6). Now, interestingly, these words represent a banking transaction in part – words of accounting practice. That is, to "reckon" something to a person means to put that thing on the person"s account ... thus, to give that person credit. "(Abraham) believed the Lord; and the Lord reckoned it to him as righteousness." Thus, Abraham "believed the Lord" – or, in other words, Abraham had faith. And, in response to that faith, the Lord gave Abraham credit for righteousness.

Why is this important? In Old Testament theology, a person could expect eternal salvation only if that person lived a life of righteousness. Thus, the fact that Abraham was credited with righteousness meant nothing less than salvation for him. "(Abraham) believed the Lord; and the Lord reckoned it to him as righteousness."

Now, on the Second Sunday in Lent in certain years, we read the corresponding verses in the Letter to the Romans, for our Second Lesson. This year the New Testament reading is from Philippians. However, I want to read those corresponding verses from Romans anyway. Here they are:

What then are we to say was gained by Abraham, our ancestor according to the flesh? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness." Now to one who works, wages are not reckoned as a gift but as something due. But to one who without works trusts him who justifies the ungodly, such faith is reckoned as righteousness (Rom 4:1-5).

Thus, we arrive at the heart of what I tried to share in relating my spiritual journey last week. Indeed, this theological truth needs to be the foundation of all our spiritual journeys, for it is the basis of our salvation. That is, we are justified – called "just" or righteous – by God, not because of what we do but by what God has done. Thus, we are justified by grace, and that justification is perceived by means of faith. Or, as the shorthand version of this basic Christian doctrine expresses it, "justification by faith."

Now, that is a lot of theological language for one sermon – important theology, indeed, but a lot of it, nevertheless. Let me try to put the principle in everyday terms ... terms that are central to life as well as to faith.

Those things in life about which I am most proud are things that I have earned. To use St. Paul's terms, those are things of which I may boast, for they have some relationship to my works, to what I have done. Included might be my home and my job, my possessions and my accomplishments. Of course, there is a question about whether or not one should boast at all, but I am trying to make a point here about our works, about those things that we earn, to some extent anyway.

On the other hand, those things that I cherish the most in life – things that even mean life itself to me – are gifts. I have not – and cannot – earn them. They are extravagant and outrageous ... so extravagant and outrageous that they require divine intervention. I think, for instance, of the birth of our children – extravagant and outrageous gifts that require divine intervention, I am absolutely certain. As parents we prepared, we did everything we could do to get ready for the new arrivals. But at the point of birth, each child was completely and entirely a gift. And, if you have five or six hours, I'll tell you about my grandchildren, too, in even more extravagant and outrageous terms!

In conclusion, then, we – like Abraham – are justified as a gift from God. We are called righteous – we are saved – not by what we have done but by what God has done. Therefore, may we continually give thanks to God for His extravagant, outrageous gifts. It is only by means of God's gifts that we have hope for eternal life. Amen.

Copyright © 2007 The Episcopal Diocese of East Tennessee