(Rom) 3:10-12, 18-19, 24 CJB “As the Tanakh puts it, “There is no one righteous, not even one! No one understands, no one seeks God, all have turned away and at the same time become useless; there is no one who shows kindness, not a single one! “There is no fear of God before their eyes.” Moreover, we know that whatever the Torah says, it says to those living within the framework of the Torah, in order that every mouth may be stopped and the whole world be shown to deserve God’s adverse judgment. By God’s grace, without earning it, all are granted the status of being considered righteous before him, through the act redeeming us from our enslavement to sin that was accomplished by the Messiah Yeshua.”
The gospel of grace is the most important message in the world.
Yet many people have never truly understood it.
Most believe they are good enough for God. They compare themselves to criminals, liars, and immoral people and conclude that God will surely accept them.
God says otherwise.
Romans 3:10-12 declares:
“There is no one righteous, not even one.”
Not some.
Not most.
Not even one.
The Bad News We Must Understand
The gospel begins with a problem.
We are sinners.
We are not born seeking God. We are born rebelling against Him.
Paul says:
“No one understands, no one seeks God.”
This does not mean people are as evil as they could be. It means every part of our lives has been corrupted by sin.
We cannot make ourselves acceptable to a holy God.
Religion cannot do it.
Morality cannot do it.
Good intentions cannot do it.
Why Jesus Came
If we cannot save ourselves, someone must save us.
That is why Jesus came.
Unlike Adam, Jesus obeyed God perfectly.
Adam brought sin and death into the world through disobedience.
Jesus brought righteousness and life through obedience.
He lived the life we should have lived.
He died the death we deserved to die.
He suffered God’s judgment in our place upon the cross.
The Heart of the Gospel of Grace
Romans 3:24 says we are:
“By God’s grace, without earning it, all are granted the status of being considered righteous before him.”
That is the heart of the gospel of grace.
Salvation is not earned.
It is received.
Jesus exchanges His righteousness for our sin.
We exchange our guilt for His forgiveness.
We exchange condemnation for eternal life.
By faith we receive what Christ accomplished for us.
Why So Many Remain Lost
Many people believe in God.
Many attend church.
Many practice religion.
Yet Jesus said the road to destruction is broad and many travel upon it.
Why?
Because people trust their performance instead of Christ’s performance.
They trust religion instead of repentance.
They trust morality instead of mercy.
They trust themselves instead of the Savior.
The Gospel Must Be Shared
This is why the Great Commission matters.
People cannot believe what they have never heard.
Every Christian has been entrusted with the message of reconciliation.
Our neighbors, coworkers, friends, and family members need more than our kindness.
They need Christ.
The gospel of grace is God’s only remedy for man’s greatest problem.
Only Jesus can forgive sin.
Only Jesus can justify the guilty.
Only Jesus can reconcile sinners to God.
Run Today’s Play
- Thank God for saving you by grace and not by works.
- Read Romans 3:10-24 slowly and carefully.
- Identify one person who needs to hear the gospel.
- Pray specifically for that person by name.
- Share your testimony with someone this week.
- Explain why Jesus had to die for sinners.
- Thank Jesus for exchanging His righteousness for your sin.
Remember:
Good people do not go to heaven.
Forgiven people do.
And forgiveness is found only through Jesus Christ.
