Romans 4:4,5

Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness,
Romans 4:4,5

In chapter 4, Paul has shifted gears slightly, now properly interpreting the truth about Abraham, his relationship with God, and God's covenant with Abraham. First, Paul explained that Abraham was not justified by works, but by faith. Now, Paul goes into more detail about works vs faith.


Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due.

We know, according to Paul, that if we were saved by works, then we would have reason to boast - and this goes directly against scripture. It's impossible for us to be saved by something that would allow us to rob glory from God.

Now Paul lays out another reason we cannot be saved by works - because then we would no longer be saved by grace.

We cannot be saved by grace and works.

In Romans 3:24, Paul wrote that we are justified by His grace as a gift.

In Romans 11:6, Paul defined grace: But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace would no longer be grace.

And, as we have seen previously, in Ephesians 2:8,9:  For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. - we are saved by grace, through the gift of faith from God. 

To then say that our effort - our work - has something to do with our justification, is to say that our justification is no longer a gift, but instead wages for our effort. Our justification becomes our payment for our work. Paul clearly teaches this is not the gospel, this is not justification by faith apart from works of the law - Romans 2:28.

And to the one who does not work...

I believe this is a very important line that Paul inserts in this teaching. We must understand that we are not saved by our efforts to be saved - our works have no bearing on our salvation. Going even further now-

Even attempting to earn salvation by our efforts/works is sinful - as this denies the very thing we were created to display - God's Amazing Grace! 

So, when Paul begins to talk about those who really are justified, apart from their works, he begins by describing them as those who do not work - those who understand that grace cannot be earned. 

It's so easy for us as humans to fall into the trap of attempting to earn salvation, or even a better standing with God - we are so accustomed to doing something in order to receive something - true grace is unfamiliar to us. This is when we need to go to the Word, trust fully in what it says, and repent for the things we do that undermine or destroy the grace that God has lovingly displayed!

but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness, 

Paul continues now talking about those that are justified. There are two points that Paul makes here:

1. those being justified are ungodly.

2. faith/belief in the one who justifies is counted as righteousness. 

It's very important that we recognize those being justified are ungodly. According to Paul, God doesn't wait for us to clean ourselves up, to give up certain sins (or any sins), He doesn't withhold His gift of justification while we try to get into the habit of going to church. 

We cannot clean ourselves up in order to be saved - we should not try. God justifies the ungodly.

When we attempt to clean up our act in order to inherit salvation, we fall into a category that Jesus put the Pharisees in - clean on the outside but full of death and evil on the inside. Salvation is God's miracle on the inside producing fruit on the outside. 

In Romans 5:8 Paul explains that Christ died for us while we were still sinners. Christ's blood does not cover us once we have gotten rid of as much sin as possible...Christ's blood covers while we are still lost in sin, freeing us from the bondage of sin and transferring us to a life that is no longer subject to the lusts of the flesh. Without Him living, moving, and working inside of us we cannot even begin to get free from the bondage of sin at all.

To the second point, Paul is reiterating the fact that believing in/having faith in the one who justifies us is what sets us free. 

The only path to justification before God is believing (acknowledging, trusting, following) in Him, and having faith that He has accomplished everything that He promised He has through His Son - the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. 

Any attempt to add to this finished work of God displays our doubt in His promise that faith in Him alone is all that is required for a restored relationship. It's normal for imperfect humans to go through periods of questioning or doubt, our minds our weak - but we must know, believe, and have faith in our hearts that God is who He says He is,  He did what He promises He did, and He will do what He promises He will do...then run with a repentant heart into His arms. 

He will strengthen us, and remove all doubt from our minds!

Pray this week that God will open the eyes of His children, showing us where we have fallen prey to Satan's traps, where we have attempted to add to God's grace. Pray for strength to repent and turn from the sin that robs God of the glory He deserves. We are all being sanctified daily - Amen!

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