Chapter four of Romans is a good chapter, but y ou need the entire chapter. Go back to the beginning of the chapter for the answer to your question.trustitl said:It is being stated by some and implied by others that there are no conditions to salvation. Is faith a condition to God imputing the righteousness of Christ to an individual?
To those who will stick with faith NOT being a condition, please explain the following:
Romans 4:22 "And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness. 23 Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; 24 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; 25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification."
"Is faith a condition to God imputing the righteousness of Christ to an individual?
Romans 4:1-2 What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.
--So what about Abraham? What had he gained? By his works he had gained nothing. He could not glory before God out of his own doings, his own works. He could not say: "Look what I did."
Romans 4:3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
--Abraham had done nothing to warrant God's blessing. The works that he did, didn't count for anything. It clearly says that "Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness." He was justified by faith alone. He works followed his salvation; were not a part of his salvation. He was made righteous by faith alone. "He believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
Romans 4:4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.
--In total contrast to verse 3, Paul states that the one who works; the one who claims that there are conditions to salvation; for his work he will gain his reward. The reward there means that which he deserves or that which he has worked for. It is not a gift; not of grace, as the verse says--not reckoned of grace. Salvation is free--reckoned of grace. There are no conditions attached. I don't have to work for it. It is "not of debt."
Romans 4:5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
--To make it even more clear and emphatic:
This is the entire statement in a nutshell. Read it over again.
If I don't work, but only believe on Christ, then Christ justifes me; it is by my faith alone that I am justified.
Romans 4:6 Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,
--Rigteousness is imputed without works. There is no doubt.
Faith is not a work. It is not something I must "do." It is belief.
Doing and believing are two different things.