However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness.

The core message of Romans 4:5 is that righteousness is credited to those who believe, not to those who work for it. This underscores the doctrine of justification by faith alone, a cornerstone of conservative Christian theology.

What does Romans 4:5 mean? Paul is showing the difference between being made right with God by works, as opposed to by faith. If we could be justified before God by works, Paul wrote in the previous verse, then God would owe us righteousness.

5 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we[e] have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand.

Encouraging and challenging you to seek intimacy with God every day. However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness.

5 But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness, Read full chapter

“But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.” 2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. 3 For what saith the scripture?

Romans 4:5. But to him that worketh not Not that the believer does not work at all, but not from such principles, and with such views as the other; he does not work in order to obtain life and salvation; he does not seek for justification by his doings: but …

However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is reckoned for righteousness.

God justifies the ungodly forever when they believe in Christ for salvation, and that faith is credited as righteousness. Once we are justified in God's sight, He does not hold our sin against us: "As far as the east is from the west so far has He removed our sin from us."