Romans 4:4-5 Now to the one who works, wages are not credited as a gift but as an obligation. 5 However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness.
Paul highlights that justification is truly a gift of God and cannot be earned. Faith is receiving this gift. If justification came by human effort, then faith would not be required. Faith is the open door to righteousness. Faith involves putting our trust in God, and not ourselves or anything else in creation. God will not force us to believe in Him because that would violate love. Love must be freely given and freely received. Paul will emphasize faith in this passage, but that does not discount the need to act in obedience. We must keep in mind Paul’s purpose and the context of this part of Romans. He is attempting to show two things: 1) every person is in desperate need of a savior because no one can overcome sin on his or her own, and 2) the only way to over sin is by faith, which requires us to trust in God’s promises. He will show later on that we need to act on our faith and respond to the Holy Spirit who will guide and transform us.
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