When it comes to the gospel, there’s good news and there’s bad news.

The bad news? Every (false) gospel that makes salvation depend upon living up to some type of moral standard of goodness for salvation.

The good news? The gospel of grace. How is it different? Consider what Paul told the Romans:

However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness (Romans 4:5).

That, to me, is great news! Here are three reasons Romans 4:5 is a showstopper for any salvation-by-works scheme.

First, God justifies “the one who does not work.” If salvation by works were true, Paul would have said, “God justifies the one who works.” But the opposite is true—He justifies the one who doesn’t work. Works are not a condition of justification. If anything, the condition is to stop working and believe.

Second, God justifies the “ungodly.” If salvation by works were true, Paul would have said that God justifies “the good,” “the moral,” or at least “the better than average.” But no. God justifies the “ungodly.” The idea that a judge would justify an ungodly person goes against every legal intuition we have. Ungodly people are the first to be condemned, not justified! But that’s not what God does. Thank goodness. By the way, this statement reveals what you were at the moment of faith: an ungodly person—a sinner who came to Jesus in faith. Afterwards, with the help of the indwelling Spirit, you can and should grow to spiritual maturity, becoming freed from your sins and addictions. But at the moment of faith, you had no moral standing before God. No cause to expect to be saved on the basis of your works, because you had none to offer. You were ungodly.

Third, Paul says, “their faith is credited as righteousness.” A works salvationist would expect God to credit our good works as righteousness. That’s how it usually happens. The more good you do, the more righteous you’re considered. But that’s not how the gospel works. God doesn’t look at your works, love, or sincerity, but at your faith in His Son. Believing in Jesus is credited as righteousness.

This is good news. It is more than that—it’s explosive. It blows up every system of salvation by working and climbing the ladder to heaven. The gospel cuts through blind pride and silences every boast. It leaves only one response: humble faith in Jesus.

So stop working to be saved. Stop trusting in your progress. Start trusting in the One who justifies the ungodly. Let your faith in Him be credited as righteousness—today.

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Send your questions or comments to shawn@freegrace.in.

Read his latest book, The Myth of Tithing and the Joy of Grace Giving by getting it from us or from Amazon.