Being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. —Romans 10:3,4
HUMAN RIGHTEOUSNESS
• Produced by our effort
• Relative; our standards
• Works only on the outside
GOD’SRIGHTEOUSNESS
• Gift from Christ
• Absolute; God’s standard
• Changes us on the inside
“The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in Him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing His riches on all who call on Him. For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in Him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? —Romans 10:8-14
Justified – Just as if I always did everything right
“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through Me.” —John 14:6
“There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.” —Acts 4:12
“I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of My hand.” —John 10:28
THE GOSPEL IN 6 SENTENCES
- God created us to be with Him.
- Our sins have separated us from God.
- Those sins cannot be removed by any good deed or act of contrition.
- Jesus came to die as the only sinless human to pay the full price for all of those sins.
- Everyone who trusts in Him alone has eternal life.
- Eternal life is supernatural life that begins now and lasts forever.
Isaiah 8:14,15; Matthew 23:27,28; Judges 17:6
2 Corinthians 3:3; Galatians 3:17-25; James 2:10
Matthew 5:27; Deuteronomy 30:14; John 15:16
2 Corinthians 5:21; John 3:16
RECOMMENDED RESOURCES
Books
Bold by Sean Feucht
Videos & More
gracestl.org/weekend-resources
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
- Comparing yourself to evil people might make you feel better. But what if God only allowed the best of the best into heaven—how many would He have to allow before you made the cut?
2. Have you ever negotiated a deal only to have the seller add extra fees afterward? What’s wrong with that? What if God, after making promises to Abraham, changed the deal by adding extra requirements through the Law?
3. What does the word grace mean? What difference does it make in your life?