4 Now to the one who works, his wage is not credited as a favor, but as what is due.
5 But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness,
6 just as David also speaks of the blessing on the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:
7 "BLESSED ARE THOSE WHOSE LAWLESS DEEDS HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN,
AND WHOSE SINS HAVE BEEN COVERED.
8 "BLESSED IS THE MAN WHOSE SIN THE LORD WILL NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT."
V. 4 - “his wage is not credited as a favor” - We can see from the OT that workers deserve to be paid when they work. (See: Exo. 22:14, 15; Lev. 19:13; Deut. 24:15). Wages are not a gift, but payment for work done. You have earned it. God commanded fairness to workers. He will execute fairness to us as well.
It is necessary to emphasize that whatever work you do, none of it is sufficient to pay off your ‘sin-debt’. Jesus took the guilty verdict against you, a certificate of death, and had it nailed to the cross that killed Him. (See: Col. 2:14). By His death you have been saved from death.
V. 5 - “the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly” - If you don’t work, you don’t get paid. Right? If you work, you receive the agreed upon amount. (See: Matt. 20:1-13b)
Jesus was asked directly by the crowd around Him, “What must we do, to work the works of God?” Their questions indicated they wanted to know what tasks had to be done to please and satisfy God. Their understanding was if they ‘work’, then they ‘receive’ stuff from God. His answer, “Believe”. (See: John 6:27-29). The work has been done - by Jesus Christ. Faith in Him moves us from ungodly to justified.
It is important - See: Mark 16:16; John 1:12, 3:18, 6:69, 14:11, 20:31; Acts 16:31, 19:4; 1 Pet. 1:8.
“his faith is credited as righteousness” - The his faith here is yours and mine. God is consistent, and impartial. If belief works for Abraham, it has to work for me! Does this mean I am actually righteous? Well, yes, and no. As long as I am in this fleshly body, I will always be plagued with sin. When I die, or Christ comes again, I will be completely transformed, given a new sinless body. I will be just like Him. He will declare that I am His own, and His sacrifice has made me righteous. The only thing I have done to “deserve” this is place my faith and life in His hands. I will finally be righteous. Not progressively (i.e., on the way to being) righteous. Not just positionally righteous - instantly, (i.e., the moment I accept and believe in Christ).
V. 6 - “David also speaks of the blessing on the man” - David would know first-hand about this kind of relationship. David was impetuous, faithful, violent, loving, flawed in many ways. Yet God saw in him the person who could lead the nation Israel. God looks at the heart of the man. ‘Works’ is an external, not an internal way of living - we do not want to acknowledge that. Faith and trust in Jesus must come from within the mind, will, and heart.
V. 7-8 - This is a quote from Psalm 32:1-2. The transgressions are covered, the sins are forgiven, God does not characterize the man as evil - this man is blessed. The second verse of this quote ends “and in whose heart is no deceit”. This is a person who has a right relationship with God.
There is another side of man seen in Psa. 36:1-4 “An evil man is rebellious to the core. He does not fear God, for he is too proud to recognize and give up his sin. The words he speaks are sinful and deceitful; he does not care about doing what is wise and right. He plans ways to sin while he lies in bed; he is committed to a sinful lifestyle; he does not reject what is evil.”
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