Day 338, Chronological Bible Study Timeline. Map. Introduction to Romans. Go to today’s Bible reading (use your browser arrow to return): Romans 1–4
Righteousness—How is it Achieved?
Do we want to be right with God so we can go to heaven someday? How can we do it? Should we regularly attend a worship center and be careful to observe all the rules, religious ceremonies, and ordinances? Or, is it possible to inherit a right standing with God because of our spiritual heritage, i.e., are we Christians because our parents were?
If we are good moral people, will we go to heaven? Can we achieve righteousness because we donate to charitable organizations? Or, is there some other way to gain God’s favor? In the first century, and even now, Jewish and non-Jewish people grapple with these questions. In the early chapters of Romans, the Apostle Paul logically lays out the case for salvation and gives answers to all of us.
On his third missionary journey, Paul writes to the believers in Rome. He has never met them, but Paul writes a letter telling them his God-given mission. He says, “Through [Christ] and for his name’s sake, we received grace and apostleship to call people from among all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith (Romans 1:5, NIV).
Hearing of their excellent Christian testimony, he wants to visit them. Because of the Jewish-Gentile controversy about salvation, he wants to explain the gospel more clearly, “for in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: ‘The righteous will live by faith’” (Romans 1:17, NIV).Why is righteousness by faith necessary?
We are sinners by nature and choice—all people do wrong things or fail to do the right things. We have spoiled the innocent nature of our original creation. Before we had a relationship with Christ, we were all, therefore, under God’s wrath. None of us like to hear that, but the Lord must punish sin; he is set apart from us in perfect purity. Today, because many of us listened to the gospel and trusted Christ to save us, we can rejoice. God gave us forgiveness, peace, and spiritual life.
What about those who have never heard?
This is a harsh reality. All people, even the heathen who have never heard about Jesus, are under God’s wrath. Why? Paul explains that,
The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness [emphasis mine], since what may be known about God is plain to them [to all men and women] because God has made it plain to them.
For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse (Romans 1:18-20, NIV).
There are two things to notice in the above verses
- God has made himself known in the consciousness of everyone capable of reasoning.
- Most people suppress their knowledge of God, and their rejection of it (or him) seals their own fate.
Since no one is righteous before God, only God's grace can save us from his wrath and give us true righteousness. We cannot achieve it through our own efforts.
What about good moral people—are they under God’s wrath, too?
Yes, the Apostle Paul teaches us that good morals aren’t enough. We often break our own standards or laws and are sinners. Yet, God is absolutely holy, and no one can come into his presence without his help. We need a savior to deliver us from our sins, for they condemn us.
What about the religious?
There were Jews in Paul’s day and in thousands of generations before him who faithfully kept the Law of Moses and all the traditions and feast days. Didn’t they have some favor with God? Today, other religious people may ask the same question about their own practices.
The answer is that religion can be deceptive. It can make people believe that they will be acceptable before God if they are faithful in doing all the right things. If they observe religious ceremonies, support their cause, and pay their dues, they will be okay. However, religion only has eternal value when it expresses their faith. No substitution can be made for genuine faith in God’s Son for salvation.
Paul is very inclusive when he writes,
As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one…”
But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.
There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus (Romans 3:10, 21-24, NIV).
What about our heritage?
Perhaps our parents were very religious, or we have other prestigious affiliations. Wouldn’t God give us a pass?
The Jews thought the same thing. Most clung to their heritage, the Mosaic Law, teachings and traditions, and especially their relationship to their beloved patriarch, Abraham. These were considered their right of passage into the kingdom of God. But Abraham was justified before God for his faith, not for keeping Moses’s laws, which were not even in existence.
What is the answer—how can we be right with God?
Paul says,
Therefore, the promise [of salvation] comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham's offspring—not only to those who are of the law [Jewish] but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all [both Jewish and non-Jewish people] (Romans 4:16, NIV).[Jesus] “was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification” (Romans 4:25, NIV).
Salvation, then, is not achieved by our morality, religion, or heritage. Without Christ, we are all sinners, and in God’s eyes, we are unholy and corrupt, to say the least.
Salvation is by God’s grace through faith in Jesus Christ. He came down from the very presence of God to this earth to rescue us from spiritual death. He was perfect but bore our sins (past, present, and future) as he suffered death by crucifixion. He died in our place for our sins to give us his righteousness, so we can be holy in God’s sight. This is what he offers us if we believe. (more...).
A more thorough introduction to Romans can be found in the more insights page.
Discussion
How can we achieve righteousness from God?
What is necessary for our salvation?
Focus Verse
Romans 4:5 “…To the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness.” (NIV)
Write a private prayer response to today’s Bible study:
My prayer response: Dear Father, we are overwhelmed by your grace. You are holy and righteous, but we are filthy and corrupt sinners without Christ. Thank you for sending him to deliver us. May we share the message of your incredible grace with others so they, too, can be saved and enter the kingdom of heaven. As our daily bread, please meet our needs and give us the conviction to share this glorious message with others. Please forgive us for our daily sins, which hinder our relationship with you and the Holy Spirit’s work. And, if we haven’t forgiven someone of the wrongs they have done, may we do that today. Lead us away from temptations from the devil to keep this message quiet. May you be glorified by our spirit and actions. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.
Please send your comments to me
Looking Ahead: If by faith in Jesus Christ, we become righteous and obtain Spiritual Freedom From Bondage. Is it okay to live in any way we want? Find out in our Next Lesson.
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