GOD JUSTIFIES THE UNGODLY “To him that worketh not, but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.” (Romans 4:5)
The question was raised in the Book of Job by one of Job’s would-be comforters, “How then can a man be justified with God? or how can he be clean that is born of woman?” The wonder of wonders is that there is an answer and a satisfying solution to the question. The answer is found not in the works of men, but rather in the work of God. The question was put in a twofold way, How can a man be justified and how can he be clean before God? Because of sin we are a race of unclean creatures, “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags…” (Isa.64:6). “Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me” (Ps.51:5). Born into this world helpless and hopeless, the problem can only be solved outside ourselves by a work performed for us and not by us. Salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone and in Christ alone. Consider the following of the late English Pastor Charles H. Spurgeon. ”That justifieth the ungodly.” Are you not surprised that there should be such an expression as that in the Bible? I have heard that men that hate the doctrines of the cross bring it as a charge against God, that He saves wicked men and receives to Himself the vilest of the vile. See how this Scripture accepts the charge, and plainly states it! By the mouth of His servant Paul, by the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, He takes to Himself the title of “Him that justifieth the ungodly.” He makes those just who are unjust, forgives those who deserve to be punished, and favors those who deserve no favor. “You thought, did you not, that salvation was for the good? That God’s grace was for the pure and holy, who are free from sin? It has fallen into your mind that, if you were excellent, then God would reward you; and you have thought that because you are not worthy, therefore there could be no way of your enjoying His favor. “You must be somewhat surprised to read a text like this: “Him that justifieth the ungodly.” I do not wonder that you are surprised for with all my familiarity with the great grace of God, I never cease to wonder at it. It does sound surprising, does it not, that it should be possible for a holy God to justify an unholy man? We, according to the natural legality of our hearts, are always talking about our own goodness and our own worthiness, and we stubbornly hold to it that there must be somewhat in us in order to win the notice of God. Now, God, who sees through all deceptions, knows that there is no goodness whatever in us. He says that “there is none righteous, no not one.” He knows that “all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags,” and therefore the Lord Jesus did not come into the world to look after goodness and righteousness with him, and to bestow them upon persons who have none of them. He comes, not because we are just, but to make us so: He justifieth the ungodly.” ~~WTW
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