“There is no one righteous, not even one;there is no one who understands;there is no one who seeks God.”

- Romans 3:10-11

“I labored diligently and anxiously as to how to understand Paul’s word...the expression ‘the righteousness of God’ blocked the way, because I took it to mean that righteousness whereby God is righteous and deals righteously in punishing the unrighteous. Therefore, I did not love a righteous and angry God, but rather hated and murmured against him.”

- Adapted from Martin Luther, Preface to his Latin Works (1545)

“Suddenly I heard a voice from the nearby house chanting as if it might be a boy or girl. ‘Pick up and read, pick up and read.’ I took the book of the Apostle (Romans) opened it and in silence read the first page on which my eye lit. ‘Not in riots and drunken parties, not in eroticism and indecencies, not in strife and rivalry, but put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the flesh in its lusts.’(Romans 13:13-14).I neither wished nor needed to read further. At once, with the last words of this sentence, it was as if a light of relief from all anxiety flooded into my heart. All the shadows of doubt were dispelled.”

- adapted from Saint Augustine, Confessions, Book VIII

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last.”

- Romans 1:16-17A

What is the relationship between grace and works? Faith and obedience?

“But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore do not be partners with them. For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.”

- Ephesians 5:3-11

The discovery of God’s righteousness can catalyze a greater pursuit toward personal righteousness.

“Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God— the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures regarding his Son, who as to his earthly life was a descendant of David, and who through the Spirit of holiness was appointed the Son of God in power by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord. Through him we received grace and apostleship to call all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith for his name’s sake.”

Romans 1:1-5

Bondservant: doulos (greek)

“Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God— the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures.”

Romans 1:1-2

Gospel of God: euangelion: good herald.

“Then I grasped that the righteousness of God is that righteousness by which through grace and sheer mercy God justifies us by faith. Thereupon I felt myself to be reborn and to have gone through open doors into paradise.”

- Adapted from Martin Luther, Preface to his Latin Works (1545)

“Through him we received grace and apostleship to call all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith for his name’s sake.”

- Romans 1:5

Grace: Forgiveness and justification.

Apostleship: Sent by God and empowered by the Holy Spirit to communicate the good news....and to call all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith.

“...but now revealed and made known through the prophetic writings by the command of the eternal God, so that all the Gentiles might come to the obedience that comes from faith”

- Romans 16:26

I. Salvation does not come from faith and obedience.

Obedience has a role to play, but is not a prerequisite or requirement for salvation.

“The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?”

- Jeremiah 17:9

“The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so”

- Romans 8:7

II. Obedience does come from true faith.

The desire to obey is always present in those who have been truly saved.

III. True obedience understands the motivation behind the precepts.

“For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?”

- I Corinthians 4:7

Significant psychological damage is done when we violate our values.

IV. If you love God, you will keep his commandments.

“If you love me, keep my commands.”

- John 14:15

Obedience leads to your flourishing and the flourishing of others who have been created in God’s image.

“There are six things the Lord hates,seven that are detestable to him:haughty eyes,a lying tongue,hands that shed innocent blood,a heart that devises wicked schemes,feet that are quick to rush into evil,a false witness who pours out liesand a person who stirs up conflict in the community.”

- Proverbs 6:16-19

V. True faith desires conformity to the image of Christ.

Because Jesus lives in you, guilt is gone but conviction increases.

“Through him we received grace and apostleship to call all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith for his name’s sake.”

Romans 1:5

“Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.”

Galatians 6:7

Forgiveness, yes. Exemption from consequences, no.

Every day you face choices: You will have the option to obey or disobey your Master’s commands.

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.”

Matthew 5:6

Three signs that faith is not genuine:

1. Little to no effort in your life to repent and confess your sins and march toward a life that is Christ-like.

“In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.”

- Hebrews 12:4

2. Little to no conviction when God’s precepts are violated.

“Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient.”

- Ephesians 5:6

3. You see grace as a license rather than a safety net.

“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.”

Mark 12:29-30

The Shema includes hearing + action (listening that leads to Doing)

When Jesus quotes the Shema, He is reminding us that loving God isn't a passive feeling. It is a posture of active, wholehearted alignment.

VI. God’s blessings are directly tied to His commandments.

“Blessed is the onewho does not walk in step with the wickedor stand in the way that sinners takeor sit in the company of mockers,but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,and who meditates on his law day and night.That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,which yields its fruit in seasonand whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers.”

Psalm 1:1-3

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