Read Textual Sermon from Robert Jeffress
The Most Important Verse in the Bible (Romans 4:5)
From the pulpit of the First Baptist Church of Dallas, Texas—this is Pathway to Victory with Dr. Robert Jeffress.
Hi, I’m Robert Jeffress, and welcome again to Pathway to Victory. The most important question a person can ask in life is this one: How can I have a right relationship with God? It’s literally a matter of life and death. And the best verse in the Bible to answer that question, in my opinion, is the one we’re going to look at today—Romans 4:5. My message is titled “The Most Important Verse in the Bible.”
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, ‘The just shall live by faith.’ ” (Romans 1:16–17, NKJV)
People have been guessing for weeks what that “most important verse” might be. Admittedly, a pastor sets himself up for trouble announcing such a thing—everyone has a different idea. Maybe it’s a verse you memorized as a child, one your parents taught you, or a verse that helped you through a difficult season. But if we had to select a single most important verse, it ought to answer the most important question in life: How can a person have a right relationship with God? Job asked it long ago (Job 9:2): How can a man be right with God? The answer affects life now and eternity.
So where do we go? Romans 4:5—turn there, as we discover the most important verse in the Bible. Paul wrote Romans to Jewish and Gentile believers. The theme is the righteousness of God—a right standing with God available to anyone who trusts in Christ for salvation (Romans 1:16–17).
In the first three chapters Paul explains that no one is naturally right with God. There is not one righteous among us. Not the pagan who’s never heard, not the moralist who lives by a good code, not even the religious person—all fall short.
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23, NKJV)
If religion won’t do it, morality won’t get you in, and ignorance is no excuse, then how can we be right with God? Romans 4:5 answers:
“But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness.” (Romans 4:5, NKJV)
And in this simple sentence we see three characteristics of the person who is in a right standing with God—truths that turn our expectations upside down.
1) God Forgives Those Who Admit They Are Ungodly
“Justifies” is a legal term: to declare not guilty. Imagine the Judge bringing down the gavel and declaring “Not guilty.” Whom does God declare not guilty? The ungodly. We tend to think, “Churchgoers, Bible readers, nice people—they get to heaven.” No—Paul says the ungodly (the wicked). “Ungodly” doesn’t just mean “not like God”; it also means opposed to God. And that describes all of us by nature. We’re born with an inclination to resist God’s “Yes” with our “No,” and His “No” with our “Yes.” We are all sinners who need a Savior. The first step is to admit it.
2) God Forgives Those Who Realize They Cannot Earn Salvation
Paul says, “to him who does not work.” That overturns our instinct. We’re taught from childhood to work for every good thing—grades, promotions, trophies. Why doesn’t God allow us to work for forgiveness? Because if we work for it, it’s no longer a gift; it becomes a wage—something God owes us.
“Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt.” (Romans 4:4, NKJV)
If salvation were even 1% our effort, it would cease to be grace. God refuses to be in our debt. Therefore, those who do not work but believe are counted righteous.
3) God Forgives Those Who Trust Christ Alone
“To him who does not work, but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly.” Earlier in Romans 4 Paul uses Abraham as Exhibit A. If anyone could get in by works, surely Abraham—but Scripture says:
“And he believed in the LORD, and He accounted it to him for righteousness.” (Genesis 15:6, NKJV)
Before circumcision, before notable works, Abraham believed, and God accounted that faith as righteousness. Biblical belief is not mere intellectual assent. It means to trust in, cling to, rely on. Like resting your full weight in a chair—no weight on your feet—saving faith transfers full dependence from self to Christ. Demons believe the facts about Jesus, but they don’t trust Him. Saving faith is personal reliance on Jesus—His death and resurrection—as your only hope.
When you come to that point of desperation and say, “God, I know I’m ungodly. I deserve Your judgment. But I believe You sent Jesus to take my punishment. I trust Jesus alone to save me”—in that instant, God accounts your faith as righteousness. That is Romans 4:5.
Years later, Charlotte Elliott captured this truth in the beloved hymn, “Just As I Am.” As a child she was told, “Come to Jesus as you are.” And she did—just as we must.
Scripture Quotations (NKJV)
- Romans 1:16–17
- Romans 3:23
- Romans 4:5
- Romans 4:4
- Genesis 15:6
Questions This Sermon Answers
- Why can’t morality, religion, or ignorance make me right with God?
- What does it mean that God “justifies the ungodly”?
- Why does any amount of “works” cancel grace?
- What is the difference between believing about Jesus and trusting in Jesus?
- How does Abraham illustrate justification by faith alone?
