FAITH IS COUNTED FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS
Rom. 4:5 “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,
