Romans 4:5—“But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.”
Paul explains the gracious character of justification by contrasting faith with works. A labourer receives wages as payment, not as a gift (v. 4). However, acceptance before God cannot be earned. The sinner has no righteousness sufficient to satisfy God’s holy judgment.
“To him that worketh not” does not commend laziness or excuse disobedience. It describes someone who rejects works as the basis of justification. He approaches God without claiming merit, relying entirely on divine grace.
The object of his faith is God, “that justifieth the ungodly”. This declaration overturns human expectations. God does not require sinners to make themselves righteous before receiving them. He declares righteous those who believe, though they possess no righteousness of their own.
Yet God never compromises His justice. Christ’s atoning death provides the righteous foundation upon which God justifies sinners. Through Christ, God remains “just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus” (Romans 3:26).
“His faith is counted for righteousness” does not mean that faith substitutes for meritorious works. Faith receives Christ, whose righteousness alone secures our acceptance before God.
Are you waiting to become worthy before coming to Christ? Your hope rests in His finished work, never in your moral improvement. Come confessing your ungodliness and trusting His sufficient sacrifice. The grace that justifies also teaches us to forsake sin and pursue holiness. Rest in Christ, and obey gratefully.
