Romans 4:5,6 - His faith is counted as righteousness

4:5

Contrary to earning salvation, which in fact no one can do, we are saved by grace through faith. We put our trust not in the work that we have done, but in who Christ is, and the work that He has done. Through Christ, God justifies the ungodly, and counts our faith as righteousness. If God did not do this, then no one could be saved, for, as Paul has shown in chapter 3, all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

4:6

Abraham, Moses and David are the three most significant figures in the Old Testament. In Paul’s reasoning Abraham is the example of faith, of being counted as righteous through faith. Moses brought the Law which kept us in check, and demonstrated our sinfulness. David highlights the need and joy of forgiveness, and Paul now turns to David and forgiveness. David, like Abraham, speaks of the blessing of being one to whom God “counts righteousness apart from works”. In putting forward these arguments, Paul is not merely trying to win a debate, but he wants the Jews to enjoy the blessedness of being forgiven. Trying to get their salvation by works was a futile exercise, one doomed to failure. This was all the more tragic because there is a much better way, one that works, one that is God’s way!