Unnecessary Baggage

What if everything we've been taught about earning God's approval is actually the very thing keeping us from experiencing His love? This exploration of Romans chapter 4 dismantles one of the most persistent lies we carry: that faith alone isn't enough. Through the story of Abraham, we discover that our spiritual father was declared righteous not because he followed rules or proved himself worthy, but simply because he believed God's promises. The Jewish Christians in Rome struggled with this truth, convinced that circumcision and law-keeping were necessary additions to faith. Sound familiar? We still carry this baggage today—trying to prove ourselves through good deeds, moral living, or religious performance. But here's the revolutionary truth: God doesn't ask us to perform; He invites us to belong. We are adopted children, not employees earning wages. The sign of circumcision came after Abraham's faith was credited as righteousness, not before. This means our actions don't make us acceptable to God; they flow from already being accepted. When we truly grasp that we're clothed with Christ—that God sees Jesus when He looks at us—everything changes. We stop trying to figure out the right formula for accessing God's promises and start living as the heirs we already are. The excess baggage of performance, proving ourselves, and earning our place can finally be unloaded. Faith is the only requirement, and it's simpler than we've made it.