But to him that worketh not
Not that the believer does not work at all, but not from such
principles, and with such views as the other; he does not work in
order to obtain life and salvation; he does not seek for
justification by his doings:
but believeth on him that justifieth the
ungodly:
or that ungodly one: particular reference is had to Abraham, who
in his state of unregeneracy was an ungodly person; as all God's
elect are in a state of nature, and are such when God justifies
them, being without a righteousness of their own; wherefore he
imputes the righteousness of another, even that of his own Son,
unto them: and though he justifies the ungodly, he does not
justify their ungodliness, but them from it; nor will he, nor
does he leave them to live and die in it; now to him that worketh
not, that is perfect righteousness; or has no opportunity of
working at all; or what he does, he does not do, that he might be
justified by it; but exercises faith on God as justifying
persons, who, like himself, are sinners, ungodly and destitute of
a righteousness:
his faith is counted for righteousness;
not the act, but the object of it; which was Abraham's case, and
therefore was not justified by works. The Vulgate Latin version
here adds, "according to the purpose of the grace of God".
