What is the meaning of Romans 4:4? Now Paul has just shown that “apart from the Law, the righteousness of God has been revealed… through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe” (Romans 3:21-22). By opening with “now,” he ties this verse into that flow of thought, stressing a present conclusion: righteousness cannot be earned. The wages • Wages are what an employer owes a laborer. Scripture affirms this earthly principle: “The worker is worthy of his wages” (1 Timothy 5:18; Luke 10:7). • Paul borrows the familiar idea of payday to help us grasp a spiritual truth about how God deals with us. Of the worker • A “worker” represents anyone who tries to earn standing with God by personal effort—religious duty, moral resolve, or ritual obedience. • Ephesians 2:9 reminds us salvation is “not by works, so that no one can boast.” Our best efforts still place us in the role of mere laborers, not benefactors. • Isaiah 64:6 says our righteous acts are like “filthy rags,” underlining that our work cannot merit divine approval. Are not credited • “Credited” points to God’s accounting ledger. He either records righteousness to our account or he doesn’t. • Romans 4:6 cites David: “the blessedness of the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works.” • Because wages are earned, they are added automatically; gifts, however, must be deliberately credited by the giver. Paul is steering us away from thinking God’s ledger works like a payroll department. As a gift • A gift is freely given, unearned, sourced purely in the giver’s generosity. • Ephesians 2:8 says salvation “is the gift of God.” • Romans 6:23 contrasts “the wages of sin” with “the gift of God,” showing gift-language always highlights grace. When God saves, He does so without compulsion or obligation; He delights to pour out mercy. But as an obligation • If we could work for righteousness, God would owe us; He would become a debtor forced to pay what is due. • Romans 11:6 sharpens the contrast: “If it is by grace, then it is no longer by works.” • God will never be indebted to creatures. Any notion that He “must” save on the basis of human performance turns grace into mere transaction and robs Him of glory. summary Romans 4:4 shows that salvation cannot be treated like a paycheck. If we approach God as laborers expecting wages, He would owe us and grace would vanish. Instead, righteousness is a gift credited to those who trust Him, echoing throughout Scripture that we are saved by grace through faith, never by human effort. |
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