Righteous by Default

Righteousness! Righteousness!

In the world cup, FIFA has a rule that makes the host of the tournament qualified automatically while other teams must have to have a tough battle to reach the mondial.

In 2010, we all know that hosts South Africa ought not be there because they did not win enough matches to qualify, yet they must be there by the statutory law of FIFA.

The above is a good explanation for "without works".

Now the bible teaches that the righteousness and salvation of every believer is "without works". What does that mean? The believer is "automatically" righteousness by the law of God. It is not according to how he "qualifies" or not, but according to how God qualifies him.

Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth RIGHTEOUSNESS WITHOUT WORKS (Romans 4:6 KJV)
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9 KJV)

In a language a friend of mine often uses, EVERY BELIEVER is RIGHTEOUS "by default". He has no sin in his account because he is the blessed man David describeth, the man unto who God does not impute sin.

He may sin, he may be overtaken in a "fault" (Gal 6:1, 1John 2:1) because he is not perfect, but God instead of imputing sins, keeps imputing righteousness.

Blessed [is] the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin. (Romans 4:8)
This is the heritage of ALL that believe in Christ Jesus, but "who has believed our report?"