Romans 9:30-33
Every person must answer this question correctly, otherwise they risk an eternity of punishment in hell.
Paul summarizes almost all of Romans 1-9 in 9:30-10:5. He answers this most pressing question – what must a person do to be right with God? The answer is singular, but has 5 layers to it as Paul describes it.
1. You must attain a perfect righteousness.
Our problem is that we are not righteous (“no not one!”) and we must be so if we are to stand uprightly before God. The Bible is clear that this is the problem – it is also clear as to what is the solution – the righteousness of God! What a great God! He makes His own righteousness available to all people by sending His Son to live a perfect life and die a perfect death. Perfect righteousness is available!!
2. You must abandon all attempts at making yourself righteous by your good works.
The perfect righteousness of God does not come to us by works, but by faith. Faith in Jesus Christ. Faith is not a work, rather it is the empty hands of a broken sinner crying out to God to save him. And save He does! The problem with most people is that they are trusting in their good deeds to make themselves right with God – but these deeds are like painting with water – they only worsen the problem even though they might offer some temporary covering.
3. You must believe on Jesus Christ.He is the only Saviour the world will ever know. If there is the slightest hint of trusting in “Jesus and....” then we have missed the mark. The only way to be saved is to put your trust for alien righteousness in the person of Jesus Christ.
When you stand before God in the Judgment Day, what will you plead? Christ or works? There is only one right answer.
[Edit: 1/17 - Forgot to include the audio link here.]
Isn't it fantastic how throughout the book of Romans, Paul keeps hammering on the same simple points? You'd almost think he knew what things were important! Salvation by grace alone through faith alone, with Christ's imputed righteousness as the end goal and necessary requirement for our salvation is the simple gospel... it bears repeating. Like that Lloyd-Jones line you always repeat, "Everytime I hear the gospel, it make me want to get saved all over again!" Boy, Romans has sure done that for me. Good to get back into it after such a long time away.
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