Many interpret Rom.4:5 to mean that when God justifieth the ungodly they remain ungodly based on the person's so called believing in Jesus. They believe change or transformation takes place in sanctification not justification. Justification which is salvation itself is to them is a make believe process where God finds a way to see the sinner as righteous though the sinner is still with sin. I quote
Rom.4:5
But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for Righteousness
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When Rom.4:5 tells us the person who believes on Jesus who justifieth the ungodly (this is believing Jesus words of truth as seen with Abraham in Gen.15:5-6), when the text says believeth in Jesus who JUSTIFIETH the ungodly his faith is counted for righteousness - this is referring to the washing of regeneration and renewing of the the Holy Spirit that is termed justification by His grace in Titus 3:5-7 - thus the ungodly becomes godly by justification (Note justification by grace is justification by faith according to Eph.2:8-10) See text below:
Gen.15:5-6 "And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be. And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness." - Abraham believed the word of the Lord
Titus 3:5-7 "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life".
Justification by grace is justification by faith Eph.2:8-10 thus these text show justification of the ungodly makes the ungodly godly, as it is a regeneration and a renewing of the Holy Spirit.
Furthermore:
Rom.4:11 which is connected to Rom.4:5 in explaining Righteousness by faith, tells us Abraham received the ritual of circumcision as a sign of the Righteousness of the faith he had. Now Rom.2:28-29 tells us the ritual of circumcision symbolize an internal work done in the heart of a person. I quote
28 For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:
29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.
Thus when the ungodly is justified by faith through God they are made godly and sinfree within actually so not make believe so.
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