What does "justifies the wicked" reveal about God's grace in Romans 4:5? Setting the scene • Romans 4 opens with Abraham as the prime example that righteousness has always been by faith, not by human effort. • Verse 5 sits at the heart of Paul’s argument, contrasting “work”‐based righteousness with God’s gift. The shocking statement: “justifies the wicked” • “Justifies” (Greek dikaioō) is a courtroom word: God declares a person righteous. • “The wicked” (lit. “the ungodly”) describes people openly opposed to God’s standards—those least deserving of acquittal. • Scripture affirms God hates evil (Psalm 5:4-5) and “will by no means leave the guilty unpunished” (Exodus 34:7). How can He then justify the ungodly? This tension magnifies grace rather than diminishing justice. Grace on full display 1. Undeserved Favor – Romans 5:6-8: “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” – God moves toward sinners first; grace is unearned, unprompted mercy. 2. A Substitute Satisfies Justice – 2 Corinthians 5:21: “God made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf.” – Isaiah 53:5: the suffering Servant bears transgression, allowing God to remain just while justifying the unjust. 3. Faith as the Empty Hand – Romans 4:5: “the one who does not work, but believes.” – Ephesians 2:8-9: salvation “not by works, so that no one may boast.” – Belief is not a meritorious act; it simply receives what grace provides. Old Testament echoes that reinforce the point • Genesis 15:6: “Abram believed the LORD, and He credited it to him as righteousness.” Paul quotes this (Romans 4:3) to show the long‐standing pattern. • Psalm 32:1-2: David celebrates the blessedness of forgiven sin—another witness to justification apart from works. The legal transaction of grace • God imputes our sin to Christ and Christ’s righteousness to us (Romans 3:24-26). • The ledger is reversed: the guilty are declared righteous because their penalty is satisfied in Christ. Implications for everyday living – Freedom from guilt: no lingering fear of condemnation (Romans 8:1). – Humility: boasting is excluded (Romans 3:27). – Assurance: salvation rests on God’s unchanging verdict, not fluctuating performance. – Motivation for holiness: grace that saves also teaches us “to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives” (Titus 2:11-12). Summary “Justifies the wicked” unveils grace that is radical, costly, and certain. God does not overlook sin; He deals with it in Christ, so that the worst can be declared righteous the moment they simply believe. |
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