Romans 4:5-7

Living Bible

^4-5 But didn’t he earn his right to heaven by all the good things he did? No, for being saved is a gift; if a person could earn it by being good, then it wouldn’t be free—but it is! It is given to those who do not work for it. For God declares sinners to be good in his sight if they have faith in Christ to save them from God’s wrath.^[a]

⁶ King David spoke of this, describing the happiness of an undeserving sinner who is declared “not guilty”^[b] by God. ⁷ “Blessed and to be envied,” he said, “are those whose sins are forgiven and put out of sight.