To Him Who Does Not Work

“But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness.”

Romans 4:5 · NKJV

This may be the most scandalous sentence Paul ever wrote. To him who does not work but believes. Every religious instinct says the opposite: work harder, and maybe God will accept you. Paul says righteousness comes to the person who stops working and starts trusting.

And look who God justifies: the ungodly. Not the polished. Not the almost-there. God justifies people who have nothing to bring but their trust in Him. Faith is not a work you perform to earn the gift. Faith is the open hand that receives it.

So stop auditing your effort to see if you qualify. Righteousness was never a wage. It is accounted, credited, counted to the one who believes on Him. Your part is trust. His part is everything else.

Faith is not another job to do. It is trusting the God who justifies the ungodly. Rest there.

Go deeper: Stop Trying. Start Trusting. →