God Justifies the Ungodly

But to the one who does not work, but believes on him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited for righteousness. – Romans 4.5, CSB

Do we remember that we are part of “the ungodly” that Christ died for? It’s humbling to remember our state before God before surrendering to Jesus. We weren’t pretty good people that God had to save because it was the right thing to do. We weren’t worthy of him doing anything on our behalf. No. We weren’t good in the least. And we weren’t searching for God. We weren’t hoping to find God so that we could make things right. The truth is, we weren’t even aware of our need for him.

“There is no one righteous, not even one. There is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God. All have turned away; all alike have become worthless. There is no one who does what is good, not even one. – Romans 3.10-12, CSB

Paul explained to the Christians in Ephesus our state before we believed in Christ.

“And you were dead in your trespasses and sins in which you previously walked according to the ways of this world, according to the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit now working in the disobedient. We too all previously lived among them in our fleshly desires, carrying out the inclinations of our flesh and thoughts, and we were by nature children under wrath as the others were also.” – Ephesians 2.1-3, CSB

It sounds hopeless, doesn’t it? And that’s because it was. And yet, there is such beauty in recognizing and remembering our ungodly state before we knew the Lord. Why? Because the immeasurable grace of God becomes even more immeasurable when we realize all that God did for us while we were sinners (Romans 5.8). Look at these verses and be reminded of God’s mercy and grace toward us.

For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring you to God. He was put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit. – 1 Peter 3.18, CSS (emphasis added)

But he was pierced because of our rebellion, crushed because of our iniquities; punishment for our peace was on him, and we are healed by his wounds. We all went astray like sheep; we all have turned to our own way; and the Lord has punished him for the iniquity of us all.” – Isaiah 53.5-6, CSB (emphasis added)

Then, follow Paul’s train of thought in Romans 4, in which he explains that faith alone, not our works, is credited to us for righteousness.

If Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about—but not before God. 3 For what does the Scripture say? Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him for righteousness. 4 Now to the one who works, pay is not credited as a gift, but as something owed. 5 But to the one who does not work, but believes on him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited for righteousness. – Romans 4.2-5, CSB (emphasis added)

We have nothing to boast in before the Lord personally. That’s the main crux of what Paul is getting at in his letter to the church in Rome. And then he brings about the most beautiful and soul-freeing statement of grace, right after reminding us that God justifies the ungodly.

Blessed are those whose lawless acts are forgiven and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the person the Lord will never charge with sin. – Romans 4.7-8, CSB.

Romans 4.7-8 is a quote from one of David’s psalms. Listen to what David wrote:

How joyful is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered! How joyful is a person whom the LORD does not charge with iniquity and in whose spirit is no deceit! – Psalm 32.1-2, CSB

Joyful! Not self-condemned. Not ignoring who we were. Not pretending everything was okay and we were worthy of what Jesus did because we weren’t that bad. No. “Joyful is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered!” 

I do not wallow in my sin, but I recognize it. I don’t continually sit and stew in the guilt and condemnation of my iniquity. Instead, I recognize that I’m a sinner, and then, with grateful joy and appreciation, I rejoice in and worship God, who rescued me while I was his enemy. And because of his mercy and grace, he has made me a new creation (2 Corinthians 5.17). The fact that God would reconcile us to himself when we are the ones who sinned and rebelled against him (2 Corinthians 5.18-19), leaves me humbled and at a loss for words to express my gratitude to him.

I am free from sin. I am no longer seen as a sinner by the Lord. My sins have been covered. My transgressions have been forgiven. And knowing that “God justifies the ungodly” does not cause me to sulk. Rather, it causes me to rejoice. It causes me to worship the Lord even more passionately because he saved me, the ungodly, and made me his own.

Thank you, Lord, for your grace and mercy. Thank you for dying for me, the ungodly, and bringing me into fellowship with you. Thank you for the righteousness you imputed to me. Thank you, Lord. Now, please use me to impact the one you have planned for me to share the beauty of your gospel with today.