That righteousness comes through faith in Jesus Christ. Now, in Romans 4 and 5, Paul takes that truth further. How does faith work? What does it mean to be justified by faith? Was this really something new? And what happens to a person who has been justified? Paul answers those questions by taking us back to Abraham, the father of faith, and then forward to Jesus Christ, the One through whom we have peace with God.

As we move into Romans 2 and 3, Paul turns his attention toward those who might have been tempted to feel morally or spiritually superior. The message becomes personal. It is not enough to recognize the sins of others. Every person must stand honestly before God. Romans 2 exposes the danger of religious pride and self-righteousness. Romans 3 brings Paul’s argument to its conclusion: everyone is under sin, and no one can be made right with God by personal goodness or religiou