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 Dear
Bro. Turner:
Please explain ROM.4:5........"to him
that worketh not ... his faith is counted for
righteousness."
Reply:
Paul
is contrasting two systems by which a man is justified,
i.e., justly acquitted of sin, there being no guilt. Via
"law" or "works" only, one could be free of
guilt only by breaking no law, doing all that
perfectness requires. When he says (vs. 4) "to him that
worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt"
he is supposing someone could "work" perfectly all
that was required of him— thereby earning his freedom
from any guilt. This is clearly a theoretic supposition, for
argument’s sake, for he has already shown (3:23) that
"all have sinned and come short of the glory of God."
So, "to him that worketh not" does not mean to one who
renders no obedience whatsoever, but points to the man who
realizes the inadequacy of relying on a system of works,
and turns instead to trust in Christ.
"God
imputeth righteousness without works" — not by
clothing us with something not ours, but by forgiving us
of something that is ours, namely, our sins. ROM.5:9 says we are
justified by Christ’s blood. ROM.4:6-8 is not disparaging such
"work" (obedience as one may render) but teaches that
our hope lays not in perfectness (via system of works)
but in God’s promise to forgive — in Christ.
In
our emphasis upon obedience and over-simplification of "the
gospel" — as though it consisted of "steps" of
obedience — we have likely under emphasized the true
significance of the
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cross, its vindication of the justice and
righteousness of God, etc.
We
may be encouraged and rejoice that many younger preachers are
"digging in" to such matters, and seeking to make our
faith in Christ more meaningful. But the commentaries and
theological source books for much of this "fresh",
"new" (to us) thinking, are steeped in Calvinism or
like reasoning. While searching for better ways to express our
dependence upon Christ, many are being "sold a bill of
goods" on grace, imputation of righteousness, etc. The word
"faith" is being given Calvinistic flavor, and I catch
the scent of inherent depravity and a direct operation of the
Holy Spirit.
As
"works" in ROM.4:5 refers to a system of works,
so "faith" is used in the broad sense of trust
in Jesus Christ for forgiveness and eternal life. The contrast
is in a system of works or law (exemplified by the Old
Covenant, through Moses) and in the system of faith, or
New Covenant. The Apostle is not saying that one who does not
obey —who believes but does not obey — will be counted
righteous. Faith in Christ embraces a submission of our
will to His, and a sincere effort to obediently serve Him. But
having recognized our own inadequacies — realizing that to
seek justification via "works" is to be "under
the curse" (GAL.3:10-f); we are constantly aware that our
trust must be in Him (where there is forgiveness rather
than in our imperfect "law keeping."
"Law"
(the generic authority of God in Christ) is
"established" not destroyed by faith in Christ. (3:31)
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