Romans 4:6
Read Romans 4:6 Using Other Translations
What does Romans 4:6 mean?
Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the
man,
&c.] the apostle having instanced in Abraham, the father of
the Jewish nation, cites some passages from David, king of
Israel, a person of great note and esteem among the Jews, in
favour of the doctrine he is establishing; who in a very proper
and lively manner describes the happiness of such persons:
unto whom God imputeth righteousness without
works.
This righteousness cannot be the righteousness of the law, or
man's obedience to it; for that is a righteousness with works, is
a man's own, and not imputed; and indeed is not a righteousness
in the sight of God: nor does man's blessedness lie in, or come
by it; no man is, or can be instilled by it, nor saved by it, or
attain to heaven and eternal happiness by the means of it; but
the righteousness here spoken of is the righteousness of Christ,
called the righteousness of God; and is better than that of
angels or men; is complete and perfect; by which the law is
honoured, and justice is satisfied. This is freely bestowed, and
graciously "imputed" by God. Just in the same way his
righteousness becomes ours, as Adam's sin did, which is by
imputation; or in the same way that our sins became Christ's, his
righteousness becomes ours; and as we have no righteousness of
our own when God justifies us, this must be done by the
righteousness of another; and that can be done no other way by
the righteousness of another, than by imputing it to us: and
which is done "without works"; not without the works of Christ,
of which this righteousness consists; but without the works of
the creature, or any consideration of them, which are utterly
excluded from justification; for if these came into account, it
would not be of grace, and boasting would not be removed. Now
such who have this righteousness thus imputed to them, are happy
persons; they are justified from all sin, and freed from all
condemnation; their persons and services are acceptable to God;
it will be always well with them; they are heirs of glory, and
shall enjoy it.
