Charles Ellicott Commentary Romans 4:5

"But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is reckoned for righteousness." — Romans 4:5 (ASV)

But to the one who puts forward no works, but has faith in God, who justifies people not for their righteousness but in spite of their sins, and so on.

The ungodly.—A stronger word is used here than simply “the unrighteous,” “the impious,” or “ungodly.” Their impiety is forgiven them by virtue of their single exercise of faith. It is characteristic of the Apostle not to flinch from the boldest expression, though, as a matter of fact, the two things, faith and positive impiety, would hardly be found together. “The ungodly” clearly belongs to the general form of the proposition, and is not intended to apply to Abraham.