Nothing like taking Romans 4 out of context of the book of Romans to prove a wrong point!
In context, according to Craig Blomberg in From Pentecost to Patmos: An Introduction to Acts through Revelation, Romans 4 is Paul taking up the point of the JEWS and their objections, in order to REFUTE salvation by works.
The objection starts in Romans 4:1. He is restating the objections of the Jews, who say that Abraham was justified by works. But no, turns out:
"For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.” [SUP]4 [/SUP]Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. [SUP]5 [/SUP]And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness, [SUP]6 [/SUP]just as David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works:"
If you continue to read in Romans 4, it says clearly that the promise to Abraham was NOT through the law, but rather through the righteousness of faith.
"For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith. [SUP]14 [/SUP]For if it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void." Romans 4:13-14
In other words, Abraham's faith, rather than his works, was what was written down in his ledger, so to speak. Abraham was also justified by faith before his circumcision, (Romans 4:1-12) so that he forms the model for how the circumcised and the uncircumcised alike are to be saved today. (Romans 4:13-25)
As a result, neither Abraham nor any other person of faith has anything to boast about in God's presence. (4:2).While most Pauline texts describing the impotence of good works in providing salvation have the commandments of Moses primarily in view, here a more general principle emerges:
* When individuals work "their wages are not credited to" them "as a gift, but as an obligation."
* But to those who do NOT work, but trust "God to justify the wicked" their faith is credited as righteousness. (verse 4)
I confess, a more twisted view of these verses, pulled out of context in Romans I have not seen!!
We simply are NOT justified by works.
PS. My suggestion is to read a modern translation of the Bible like ESV above, so you don't get all twisted and distort the Bible because you do not understand the early modern English it was written in, let alone the Greek!