"But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness." — Romans 4:5 (KJV)
If there is one verse that clearly separates salvation by faith alone from salvation by works, it is Romans 4:5.
Many theological systems attempt to combine faith and works. Some require surrender. Others require perseverance. Still others insist that genuine faith must be accompanied by enough obedience to prove it is real.
Yet Romans 4:5 cuts through the confusion with remarkable clarity.
Paul presents two radically different approaches.
One is based on works.
The other is based on faith.
And according to Paul, only one results in righteousness.
Notice how the verse begins:
"But to him that worketh not..."
Paul could hardly have chosen stronger language.
He does not say:
He says: "To him that worketh not."
Paul is describing a person who is not relying on works for justification.
The issue is not whether believers perform good works after salvation. The issue is what role works play in obtaining righteousness before God.
According to Paul, they play no role at all.
Paul continues:
"But believeth on him..."
The contrast is deliberate.
Instead of working, the person believes. Instead of trusting performance, the person trusts God.
Faith and works are presented as opposing principles.
The sinner receives righteousness not by earning it, but by believing. This is why salvation is repeatedly described throughout Scripture as a gift.
A gift is received. It is not earned.
This agrees perfectly with John 6:47, where Jesus says that the one who believes on Him has everlasting life.
This phrase is one of the most overlooked in the entire chapter.
Paul says God "justifieth the ungodly."
Notice what he does not say.
He does not say God justifies the reformed.
He does not say God justifies the committed.
He does not say God justifies those who have cleaned up their lives.
He says God justifies the ungodly.
That is precisely why grace is so amazing.
God does not wait for sinners to become righteous before declaring them righteous. He justifies those who trust Christ.
Paul concludes:
"His faith is counted for righteousness."
The word "counted" refers to something being credited to someone's account.
The believer does not possess personal righteousness sufficient to stand before God. Instead, righteousness is credited through faith.
This is not a reward for good behavior. It is a gift received by believing.
The focus is entirely upon what God credits, not what man earns.
The entire context of Romans 4 revolves around Abraham.
Paul asks:
"For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God." — Romans 4:2
If anyone could claim salvation through works, it would have been Abraham.
Yet Paul explicitly rejects that idea.
Abraham was justified by faith. The same principle applies to every believer today.
Many systems effectively turn faith into a form of work.
They require enough surrender, commitment, obedience, or perseverance to demonstrate genuine salvation.
But Romans 4:5 points in the opposite direction.
Paul deliberately contrasts working and believing.
The person receiving righteousness is not the one working. It is the one believing.
This does not make good works unimportant. Good works have a place in discipleship, service, rewards, and Christian growth.
But they do not contribute to justification.
Some point to James 2 and claim Paul cannot really mean what he says here.
Yet James and Paul address different questions.
Paul explains how an ungodly sinner is justified before God. James explains how faith is demonstrated before men.
Paul discusses the root. James discusses the fruit.
Paul discusses receiving life. James discusses usefulness and maturity.
There is no contradiction when both passages are understood in context. For more detail, see Paul vs. James Explained.
Romans 4:5 forces every person to answer a simple question:
Are you trusting your works?
Or are you trusting Christ?
The person who trusts works ultimately trusts himself.
The person who trusts Christ relies entirely upon God's promise.
That is the very heart of grace.
Romans 4:5 stands as one of the clearest salvation verses in the Bible.
Paul teaches that the one who does not work for righteousness, but believes on God, is justified and has righteousness credited to him.
The verse leaves no room for boasting. No room for earning. No room for performance.
Only faith. Only grace. Only Christ.
The sinner is not saved because he works. The sinner is saved because he believes.