Romans 4:8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.

It is not that He cannot, it is that He will not. Exactly what is it that the Lord denies doing and why? The object is sin and the verb is impute. While looking up the Old Testament definition of impute I found the earliest use was in Genesis 2:8 when God put the man in the garden. It is also used in conjunction with putting a man in prison.

The boarder meaning is used to plants ones seed, as in to father a child. It is also used in context to plant fruit bearing trees. So how does this relate to Romans 4:8?

Romans 6:5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:

One can only grow what has been planted.

Ephesians 3:17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,

2 Corinthians 9:10 Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;

Philippians 1:11 Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.

Psalm 1:3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

Matthew 7:19-20 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

Romans 5:13 For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.

You are imputed grace not law, so sin is cannot take root.

Romans 3:31 Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.

This verse of scripture is confusing because of the general understanding of establish which in modern terms means; set up (an organization, system, or set of rules) on a firm or permanent basis. God has already done that so reusing that definition becomes redundant. Man cannot make the laws that God has already established, in the modern sense.

We have to once again look to the Greek with its multifaceted definitions to see which tense this word applies in context.

Histemi in its third tense means to set or place in a balance; to weigh: money to one (because in very early times before the introduction of coinage, the metals used to be weighed)

The law was heavily weighted towards punishment. Death was required for all violations against God. There were lesser penalties for wrongs done against another person, but punishment was the primary focus.

There was no way to bring law into balance, nothing that could balance the heavy weight of death. There was nothing that created life to offset the weight of sinning against God.

John 3:3,7 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

Only being born again establishes life on the other side of the scales of justice. God, being a just God, had to create a just answer to a just law that could bring the law back into balance.

Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

Law without grace is out of balance and there is no justice. Paul’s establishment is bringing balance to the law by preaching grace, a way to get on the right side of the scales of justice by being born again.