FAITH IS COUNTED FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS

Rom. 4:5

Morning Meditation 5/8/2015

“But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.”

Is faith a righteous act? What is the Bible saying in this verse and others where faith is counted for righteousness? Let us look at what this verse is saying.

Paul says “But to him that worketh not.” The works here is a reference to the works of the law. He has just said in chapter three and verse 20: “Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.” The words “the deeds of the law” is a definite reference to human works in the process of obedience to the law of God. And God says in this verse that “there shall no flesh be justified in his sight” by the deeds of the law. This is what God says. If you think that you can be justified in the sight of God by keeping the Law of Moses or any other set of rules someone presents to you as a means of salvation, you need to take a close look at what Paul is saying here. He says that no one will be justified in his sight by works.

So Paul says, “But to him that worketh not.” The word “worketh” (ergazomai) is the translation of a word that means “ to work, to toil, to trade, to make gains by trading, do business.” It is a present middle participle. It is used with the negative which means the one who is not working in response or obedience to the law but is believing. This verse begins by making it clear that what faith does for the person (the believer) it does not do because he is keeping the law or even attempting to keep the law. Let me state the matter of works in a different way so we will be clear on what Paul (the Holy Spirit because it is the inspired Word of God) is teaching here. The idea of being saved by “works” is where you trade your works for God’s salvation. You can’t say anything else. This is what a man has to say when he says that a person is saved by works. He is simply in business with God. He does those things that please God (he thinks) and trades these acts of righteousness (according to his definition) for heaven. Of course his human acts of righteousness, even those acts which are in response to God’s law, are spoken of in this manner in Isa. 64:6: “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.”

Paul adds, “but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly.” The word “believeth” (pisteuo) is a verb form and is a present active participle. The word believe means “to be persuaded of, to place confidence in.” It means to treat as truth. It means to treat as a settled conviction of the truth of anything. The present tense means that this is the continuous attitude of the one referred to in this verse. The active voice means that it is a choice of the believer. Salvation is a choice. Men are saved because they make a choice when they hear the gospel.

The words “on him” state where justifying faith is placed. It is not in self or the church.. I had a man tell me one time if you believe in a stump hard enough you will be saved. What the man was confused about was that “faith saves.” Therefore, it is not what you have your faith in as long as you have faith. Of course, saving faith is not faith in faith but saving faith is in him who justifies the ungodly. The preposition “on” is the translation of “epi” which means upon, i.e., like on a foundation. Jesus is the foundation of our faith. The Bible says in 1 Cor. 3:11 “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” Faith is placed on the strong foundation of the faithfulness and immutability of God.

The word “justifieth” (dikaioo) comes from the word that means “righteous, observing divine laws.” There is only one who was truly righteous and that was Jesus. God said of his Son, “This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.” Jesus said to those who were the most informed of his day concerning the Law, “Which of you convinceth me of sin.” And no one could. The word “justifieth” is translation of the same word that is rendered righteous in other places. My spell checker just went crazy! It tells me there is no such word. The word “justifieth” is the right word and it is the translation of the word that also means “righteous.” It is a present active participle. This means that “justification” is a present tense experience. It is not “pie in the sky by and by” it is justification right now on the spot for those willing to respond in repentance and faith to the gospel of Jesus Christ.

The word “ungodly” describe the one’s whom God justifies by faith. It is not those who deem themselves righteous because of their perceived keeping of the law. It is the “ungodly” that he justifies. The word “ungodly” (asebes) means “destitute of reverential awe towards God, condemning God, impious.” Does this describe you? You say, “Not by a long shot! I am not ungodly. I am not a bad person.” Then you are not a candidate for salvation. Jesus didn’t come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance (Matt. 9:13). You say, “I am already saved.” You are not saved unless you have faced the FACT that you are ungodly. I am not saying that you have done a few things wrong. I am saying that you are ungodly to the very core of your life and in such a condition that you cannot think a good thought that God will accept as a righteous thought.

Our problem is that our perception of what is right is wrong. Sin is only measured or even discovered when placed in the presence of a holy God. Isaiah thought he was ok until he had the vision of Isaiah chapter 6. I won’t quote it here but when he saw the LORD high and lifted up he said, “Woe is me for I am undone!”

God justifies the ungodly by faith. The words “his faith is counted for righteousness” brings this out. The word “counted” (logizomai) means “to reckon, count, compute, calculate.” This means that God “reckons” this as righteousness.” It means God “computes or calculates” this as righteousness. The word “counted” is from a word that means “to say something with a word.” This means that when a person exercises faith in Jesus Christ God SAYS that man is righteous. Even though that man is ungodly! Do you qualify for God to say you are righteous?

Paul says “his faith is counted for righteousness.” I must say this is good news for me. I know I can’t keep God’s standards. I have tried. I am a total failure when it come to meeting what God requires. But one day I heard the good news. Christ died for sinners who were hopelessly locked in to an old sin nature that rendered it impossible for them to meet God’s standards. Jesus came and died for sinners like me. And the good news says that God will justify me if I will believe in Christ as my personal Saviour. I did and he did. Faith is counted for righteousness.

May God bless you.

In Christ

Bro. White