Rom.4:3-5 – For what does the Scripture say? “ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS.” Now to the one who works, his wage is not credited as a favor, but as what is due. But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness,

This passage is one of the most important in Paul’s message of salvation by grace alone. He uses a shocking phrase in these verses, especially to the Jewish mind, “Him who justifies the ungodly”. The most vile sinners are considered righteous before God before they have done one righteous thing. This cuts across the grain of all religion, those who come to Him are considered righteous because of grace received by faith, not by any human works at all. This passage is central to the book of Romans and to all of Paul’s preaching. I have to say it again, God justifies the ungodly. Here is how the ESV Expository Commentary describes this passage.

“Key to this verse (and this whole chapter) is that God “justifies the ungodly”. This is an astounding assertion. Is not the point of religion to provide a way for people to “get right with God,” whether by acts of worship or by deeds of kindness or by spiritual experience? Does not God reward religious commitment with his acceptance and blessing?
The gospel message is that the grace of justification precedes human acts of obedience and loyalty that God deems pleasing. Abraham did not perform meritorious acts to earn God’s favor. It was his believing that God “counted as righteousness.” The image here recalls a courtroom in which a judge renders a verdict, declaring the accused guilty or innocent. Like all humans, Abraham was a sinner—guilty! But the surprising verdict is . . . not guilty! God imputed a righteous status to a person with clay feet just like all other people. When confronted with God’s promise, Abraham “believed the LORD”.”

So think about the ones who found mercy and acceptance in the ministry of Jesus – there was Mary the prostitute, Peter the fisherman, Matthew the tax collector, the madman from Gadara, Zachaeus the chief tax collector, and Nicodemus the Pharisee. Then of course there was the chief of sinners himself – the Apostle Paul – whom Jesus found persecuting Christians. In today’s world that is what the Lord is still doing, justifying the ungodly. He is looking for drug addicts, stoners, drunks, thieves, harlots, pimps, cheats, and liars to call them righteous. This is the message that changes the world. By the way, He doesn’t leave us that way, His grace not only declares us righteous but starts us down the road to living a whole different kind of way.