"To the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness." Rom 4:5This concept is inconceivable to the legalist, and as such God has so constructed the gospel as to make it contemptible to such people, as God has also orchestrated the gospel to make it contemptible to the proud in order to prevent them from being saved, while at the same time making salvation free. The gospel is not for those who try to be justified by their works.