Romans 4:4 – “Now to the one who works, wages are not credited as a gift but as an obligation.”

Extended Explanation

Paul is using a simple analogy in this verse to make a crucial point about how righteousness is received. He compares salvation to wages and explains that if a person works for something, their wages are not given as a gift but as something earned.

This might seem like common sense—when you work a job, your paycheck isn’t a favor from your employer; it’s something you deserve because you earned it. But Paul is making a deeper spiritual point: if salvation were something we earned, then God would owe it to us like a paycheck. But that’s not how it works.

The righteousness God gives us isn’t something we work for—it’s something we receive as a gift by faith. If we had to work for it, it wouldn’t be grace anymore—it would be something God was obligated to give us. But salvation is never an obligation on God’s part; it is a free gift that we don’t deserve but receive through faith.

Historical Context

In Paul’s time, many Jews believed that following the Law of Moses—keeping the commandments, offering sacrifices, and performing religious rituals—was the way to be made right with God. Many thought that righteousness was something you earned through obedience.

Paul is speaking against this mindset. He is showing that Abraham was declared righteous before he ever followed any religious laws. His righteousness was based on faith, not on working for it. This was a radical idea in Paul’s time because it meant that both Jews and Gentiles could be justified by faith alone, not by works.

Paul’s argument also applies to the Roman culture of his day. In a society built on power, achievements, and earning rewards, the idea that salvation was a free gift—not something to be earned—would have been shocking.

Theological Implications

This verse reinforces the central Christian teaching of salvation by grace, not by works.

• If righteousness came by works, then God would be obligated to save us—but salvation is a gift, not a wage.
• Faith and works are completely different ways of relating to God. If salvation were based on works, then people could take credit for their own righteousness. But because salvation is based on faith, all the credit belongs to God.
• Grace and obligation cannot coexist. If we work for salvation, it’s no longer grace—it becomes a wage that we “deserve.” But the Bible is clear: we don’t deserve salvation, and yet God gives it freely.

Paul’s argument sets the foundation for the entire gospel: God saves people by grace, through faith, apart from works.

Literary Analysis

Paul uses a contrast in this verse between two different ways of receiving something:

1. Working for wages – If someone works, they receive their pay because they earned it.
2. Receiving a gift – If something is a gift, it is freely given, not earned.

Paul’s choice of words is deliberate. The phrase “credited as a gift” ties directly to the idea of grace—God giving us what we don’t deserve. The phrase “credited as an obligation” ties to the idea of earning something, which contradicts grace.

By setting up this contrast, Paul is making it clear: salvation is not a paycheck—it is a gift.

Relevant Biblical Cross-References

• Romans 6:23 – “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
• Ephesians 2:8-9 – “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.”
• Titus 3:5 – “He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy.”
• Romans 11:6 – “And if by grace, then it cannot be based on works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace.”

What This Verse Means for Today’s Christian

This verse is a reminder that our relationship with God is not a business transaction. Too many people think, “If I do good things, God will bless me. If I follow the rules, God will accept me.” But Paul makes it clear—God’s righteousness is not something we earn, it is something He freely gives.

For Christians today, this verse brings freedom. If salvation were something we had to earn, we would always be wondering if we had done enough. But because it is a gift, we can rest in God’s grace and trust that our righteousness comes from Him, not from our own efforts.

This truth should also shape how we treat others. If we’ve been freely given God’s grace, we should extend that same grace to others. Christianity is not about earning God’s love—it’s about receiving it and sharing it.

How This Verse Relates to a Loving God

A loving God doesn’t treat us like employees who have to earn His favor. Instead, He gives us righteousness as a gift because He loves us.

This verse highlights the gracious nature of God. If God were only just, He would demand that we pay for our sins through our own efforts. But because He is both just and loving, He freely gives righteousness to those who trust Him.

A loving God doesn’t owe us salvation—He gives it freely because of His mercy. This means we can trust in His goodness and rest in His grace.

How This Verse Connects to Jesus Christ

This verse connects directly to Jesus because Jesus paid the debt we could never pay. If salvation was something we could earn, Jesus would not have needed to die. But because we could never earn righteousness, Jesus took our place.

• Romans 5:8 – “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
• 2 Corinthians 5:21 – “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”
• John 19:30 – Jesus’ final words on the cross: “It is finished.” This means the work of salvation is done—we don’t have to earn it, just receive it.

Through Jesus, God offers us the gift of righteousness. He paid the price so that we wouldn’t have to. Our response is simply to believe and receive.

Questions for Reflection and Discussion

1. Why do you think Paul uses the example of wages and gifts in this verse?
2. How does this verse challenge the idea that we can “earn” our way to heaven?
3. What are some ways people today try to work for their salvation?
4. How does understanding that righteousness is a gift change your relationship with God?
5. If we have received God’s grace freely, how should that affect the way we treat others?

Romans 4:4 is a simple but powerful reminder: salvation is not a paycheck—it’s a gift. We don’t work for it, we don’t earn it, and God doesn’t owe it to us. He gives it freely because He loves us. All we have to do is believe and receive.