The book of Romans was Apostle Paul's most profound teaching on the, "Grace of God." Paul, in fact, received this awesome revelation from God, not man. In Romans 1-4, Paul reveals that both the Gentiles and the Jews were found guilty before God.

Chapter one reveals that even though the Gentiles were not under the law, God had indeed given them the intuitive knowledge of right and wrong (Romans 1:18-20), yet the Gentiles still did vile acts. Paul said the Gentiles were found guilty before God. The whole world today also has that same intuitive knowledge. They know what is right and what is wrong.

Then in chapter two, you have the Jews who were under the law, telling Gentiles they needed to be circumcised for justification before God. Paul also said the Jews were guilty before God. They continually insisted and believed that their own works justified them. James 2:10 says, For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all. If someone tries to point out your faults, just ask them, "have you kept the whole law?" they can't say yes, they are guilty themselves.

In chapter three, Paul is revealing that the Jews had the oracles of God but didn't believe it. They always said "yes" to the Messiah, but used circumcision as their justification before God. In Romans 3:20 says, therefore by the deeds of the law, no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin. In 1st Corinthians 15:56, it says the sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. If we continually preach the law, it does only one thing; it strengthens sin, and without a doubt keeps us self focused & self-centered, when the main focus should be on Christ & what He has accomplished on the cross for us.

Then in chapter four, Paul is making a strong point by using the example of Abraham. Paul is asking in this chapter, "What good did Abraham's works and efforts earn him before God?" Abraham's works were not good enough to grant him justification in the sight of God. Justification only comes by faith. Romans 4:3 & Genesis 15:56 says, Abraham believed God; it was accounted to him for righteousness. Our faith in the sacrificial death of a savior was God's plan of redemption all along. When we trust in our own works it voids Grace. Trusting in God's Grace makes faith in our own efforts useless.

Then we come to one of the most awesome chapters in the book of Romans, Chapter 5. Paul had just proven through the life of Abraham that justification comes by faith. By us receiving Christ in our hearts, by faith in what He did independent of us by Grace; that we are also justified by faith. Roman 4:23-24 says, but also for us, it shall be imputed to us who believe in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, who was delivered up because of our offenses and was raised because of our justification. THIS IS THE GRACE OF GOD!

There are great benefits of being justified by faith instead of works:

a. First, peace can only come when we relate to God on the basis of faith in what He did for us, instead of what we do for Him.

b. Second, a person who is thinking that he must perform to some standard to be accepted with God will have no peace.

c. Third, that puts the burden of salvation on our shoulders and we can't bear that load.

In Romans 5:3 it speaks that we glory in tribulations, and knowing that tribulation produces perseverance. People take this scripture to say that God is the one who brings tribulation. That is not what this scripture is saying; instead tribulation exists, not because God creates them, but because there is a battle between the kingdom of God and the kingdom of the devil. James 1:13 says let no one say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God" for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself temp anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.

The rest of this chapter reveals that we have been given the, "gift of righteousness" Romans 5:8-10 says, God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were sinners, Christ died for us. Much, Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath through Him. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. Have you heard that our being justified and saved from the wrath through Him is much less? That is not what these scriptures are saying! Romans 5:15 says, but the free gift is not like the offense. For if by the one man's offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of one Man, Jesus Christ, abound to many. This is saying that much more we are in right standing in Him. Romans 5:17 For if by the one man's offense (Adam) death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of Grace and the gift of righteousness will reign through the one, Jesus Christ. The moment we receive Jesus Christ in our hearts, we indeed receive His righteousness and His grace. Romans 5:20-21 says, moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded grace abounded much more. So that as sin reigned in death even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

In Romans chapter 5 it says one time much, much more we have been justified, saved from wrath, and four times it says much more, when we were enemies we were reconciled to God, through the death of His son Jesus Christ. That where sin abounds, grace abounds much more, that we are reigning in His righteousness through Jesus Christ.

Five times Paul makes this comparison so that there should be not doubt that in the same way that all became sinners through Adam, all who put faith in Christ are made righteousness through Him. The religious world has basically accepted this truth of inherited sin from Adam, but this truth of inherited righteousness through the new birth is still a mystery to many.

If we remove the knowledge of righteousness by faith and grace, it looses the power to release eternal life into our daily lives.

Adam's sin brought things from good to bad - sin on the human race

Jesus brought things from bad to good - gift of righteousness
Right Standing before God