Understanding Righteousness: The Struggle Between Law and Grace

Devotional

Day 1: The Tension Between Law and Human Nature

The struggle depicted in Romans 7:14-25 is not about identifying whether the person is a Christian or non-Christian but understanding the tension between the law and human nature. The law is spiritual and good, but our flesh is weak, highlighting our need for Christ's righteousness. This passage presents a divided individual, one who desires to do good but finds themselves doing the opposite. It underscores the reality that while the law is holy and righteous, it cannot save us from our sinful nature. Instead, it reveals our need for a Savior who can bridge the gap between our intentions and actions. [21:35]

"For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members." (Romans 7:22-23, ESV)

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you feel the tension between your desire to do good and your actions? How can you invite Christ into this struggle today?

Day 2: Justification by Faith Alone

Justification by faith alone is central to the gospel. It is not our righteousness that commends us to God, but the righteousness of Christ, which is credited to us through faith. This is the glorious truth of the gospel that liberates us from the burden of self-righteousness. The essence of the gospel is that we are made righteous not by our works but by the imputed righteousness of Christ. This understanding frees us from the pressure to earn God's favor and allows us to rest in the finished work of Jesus. [09:44]

"For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin." (Romans 3:20, ESV)

Reflection: Are there areas in your life where you are still trying to earn God's approval? How can you shift your focus to trusting in Christ's righteousness instead?

Day 3: The Law as a Guide to Christ

The law serves as a guide that points us to Christ. It is not a means to establish our righteousness but a revelation of God's standard, fulfilled in Christ. Our role is to believe and trust in Christ's righteousness, which is imputed to us. The law reveals our shortcomings and our need for a Savior, directing us to the one who perfectly fulfilled it on our behalf. This understanding should lead us to a deeper reliance on Christ and His work. [12:37]

"So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith." (Galatians 3:24, ESV)

Reflection: How does understanding the law as a guide to Christ change your perspective on your own efforts to be righteous? What steps can you take to rely more on Christ's fulfillment of the law?

Day 4: Living Boldly in Christ's Righteousness

The gospel empowers us to live boldly for Christ, not because of our goodness, but because of His. Our confidence comes from the imputed righteousness of Christ, which allows us to stand before God justified and to live as bold witnesses of His grace. Knowing that our standing before God is secure in His righteousness, we are free to live out our faith with courage and conviction, sharing the hope we have in Christ with others. [18:17]

"Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold." (2 Corinthians 3:12, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you can live more boldly for Christ? How can you take a step of faith in that area today?

Day 5: Embracing the Alien Righteousness of Christ

Embracing the alien righteousness of Christ is the key to reconciliation with God. It is a call to turn away from self-reliance and law-keeping and to trust in the complete and perfect salvation provided through Jesus. This is the invitation to be reconciled to God and to live in the freedom of His grace. By accepting Christ's righteousness, we are freed from the burden of trying to earn our way to God and can rest in the assurance of His grace. [24:43]

"For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." (2 Corinthians 5:21, ESV)

Reflection: Is there an area of your life where you are still relying on your own efforts rather than Christ's righteousness? How can you surrender this to God and embrace His grace more fully today?

Sermon Summary

In today's exploration of Romans 7:14-25, we delved into the complexities of understanding whether this passage describes a Christian or a non-Christian experience. The heart of the matter is not necessarily about pinpointing the exact identity of the person in the text but rather understanding the broader implications of sin, the law, and righteousness. The passage presents a divided individual, one who desires to do good but finds themselves doing the opposite. This struggle highlights the tension between the law, which is spiritual and good, and our human nature, which is frail and sinful.

The main thrust of Romans is the revelation of God's righteousness through faith in Jesus Christ. All humans have fallen short of God's glory and are under His righteous wrath. However, through Jesus, God provides a way for sinners to be justified by faith alone. This justification is not based on our righteousness but on the righteousness of Christ, which is credited to us through faith. This is the essence of the gospel: that we are made righteous not by our works but by the imputed righteousness of Christ.

The law, while good and holy, cannot save us. It points us to Christ, who is the fulfillment of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. Our task is to subject ourselves to God's righteousness, not by trying to establish our own through law-keeping, but by trusting in Christ's perfect obedience and sacrifice. This understanding should embolden us to live boldly for Christ, knowing that our standing before God is secure in His righteousness, not our own.

Key Takeaways

1. 25 is not about identifying whether the person is a Christian or non-Christian but understanding the tension between the law and human nature. The law is spiritual and good, but our flesh is weak, highlighting our need for Christ's righteousness. [21:35]
2. Justification by faith alone is central to the gospel. It is not our righteousness that commends us to God, but the righteousness of Christ, which is credited to us through faith. This is the glorious truth of the gospel that liberates us from the burden of self-righteousness.

3. The law serves as a guide that points us to Christ. It is not a means to establish our righteousness but a revelation of God's standard, fulfilled in Christ. Our role is to believe and trust in Christ's righteousness, which is imputed to us.

4. The gospel empowers us to live boldly for Christ, not because of our goodness, but because of His. Our confidence comes from the imputed righteousness of Christ, which allows us to stand before God justified and to live as bold witnesses of His grace.

5. Embracing the alien righteousness of Christ is the key to reconciliation with God. It is a call to turn away from self-reliance and law-keeping and to trust in the complete and perfect salvation provided through Jesus. This is the invitation to be reconciled to God and to live in the freedom of His grace. [21:35]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:19] - Introduction to Romans 7:14-25
[01:13] - The Divided Man: A Controversial Text
[02:06] - Interpretations of the Divided Man
[03:00] - Handling Ambiguity in Scripture
[04:44] - The Main Point of Romans
[06:06] - Justification by Faith Alone
[07:39] - The Doctrine of Imputation
[09:44] - God's Righteousness Revealed
[12:06] - The Law and Christ's Fulfillment
[14:46] - Christ's Obedience and Our Righteousness
[16:17] - The Great Exchange: Sin and Righteousness
[18:00] - Living Boldly in Christ's Righteousness
[21:35] - Vindicating the Law
[23:34] - Embracing Alien Righteousness
[25:45] - Conclusion and Invitation

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Romans 7:14-25
- Romans 3:21-22
- 2 Corinthians 5:21

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Observation Questions:

In Romans 7:14-25, what is the nature of the struggle described by Paul? How does this reflect the tension between the law and human nature? [21:35]
According to Romans 3:21-22, how is the righteousness of God revealed, and what role does faith play in this revelation? [09:44]
How does 2 Corinthians 5:21 describe the exchange that takes place through Christ's sacrifice? What does it mean for Christ to become sin for us? [16:31]
What does the sermon suggest about the purpose of the law in relation to Christ and righteousness? [12:37]

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Interpretation Questions:

How does the struggle in Romans 7:14-25 illustrate the broader human condition and our need for Christ's righteousness? [21:35]
What does it mean to be justified by faith alone, and how does this concept challenge the idea of self-righteousness? [09:44]
In what ways does the law serve as a guide that points us to Christ, according to the sermon? How does this understanding affect our view of the law? [12:37]
How does the concept of imputed righteousness, as discussed in the sermon, impact a believer's confidence in their standing before God? [18:17]

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Application Questions:

Reflect on a time when you felt the tension between wanting to do good and falling short. How can understanding Romans 7:14-25 help you navigate this struggle? [21:35]
How does the idea of justification by faith alone change the way you view your relationship with God? Are there areas in your life where you rely on your own righteousness instead of Christ's? [09:44]
The sermon emphasizes the importance of trusting in Christ's righteousness rather than our own. What practical steps can you take to shift your focus from self-reliance to faith in Christ's work? [12:37]
Consider how the gospel empowers you to live boldly for Christ. What specific actions can you take this week to be a bold witness of His grace in your community? [18:17]
The sermon invites us to embrace the alien righteousness of Christ. How can you actively turn away from self-reliance and law-keeping in your daily life? What does this look like practically for you? [24:43]
How can the understanding of Christ's imputed righteousness help you deal with feelings of inadequacy or failure in your spiritual journey? [18:17]
Identify one area in your life where you struggle with self-righteousness. What steps can you take to surrender this area to God and trust in His righteousness instead? [11:16]

Sermon Clips

"I don't think that your total view of the Christian life has to be ruined by getting one text wrong in other words you could choose wrong on this text and have an absolutely excellent understanding of the Christian Life as a total because there's so many other passages that ought to feed into your understanding of the Christian life." [00:03:12]

"The main point of the book of Romans is this: all sinful human beings that is all human beings have fallen short of the glory of God and thus bring daily dishonor to God and therefore are under the wrath of God righteously it is just of God to pour out his wrath upon people who are sinners and bring daily dishonor to him." [00:04:50]

"Nevertheless it is possible because of what God provided in Jesus Christ his only son for Sinners under the wrath of God to be set right with God because of Jesus by faith alone that's the main point of the book of Romans look at chapter 4: 5 and 6 I want you to see it from from his own lips he's the one who's inspired I'm a pointer." [00:05:28]

"This is the Glorious gospel truth that God provides a righteousness that is not our righteousness and then counts that righteousness through faith to be our righteousness so when you read in verse six he credits righteousness to us apart from works that's the same as saying he credits Faith as righteousness because faith is the instrument or the channel through which that righteousness is credited to us." [00:07:44]

"God made Christ who knew no sin to be sin for our sakes so that in him and you get in him by faith so that in him you might become the righteousness of God now don't miss the parallel here it is so absolutely crucial that you understand your becoming righteousness the way he became your sin don't get this wrong." [00:16:29]

"Christ so obeyed the law in his life in his death and his obeying the law perfectly and always will obey the law perfectly and thus he embodies in himself all of God's righteousness obeying God's law enabled by God's power living for God's glory a perfect embodiment of everything God intended humankind to be through that obedience many may be made righteous." [00:15:23]

"To get right with God that is Justified you got to turn away from the law and law-keeping and Trust an alien righteousness provided by God in Jesus Christ and he said to bear fruit for God 7:4 that is to get Sanctified if you like the big words to bear fruit for God Like Love BEC a loving person." [00:23:41]

"Embrace the alien righteousness that is offered you right now as you sit in your Pew god holds out his hands to you right now I have provided a complete and perfect salvation I have provided a complete and perfect substitute death and substitute righteousness in my son just believe me trust me receive it as The Treasure of your life and you will be right with the Living God." [00:24:55]

"The point of this chapter is to vindicate the law to show that it is good it is spiritual it is Holy it is just it is joyful that's Romans 7 now why does he have to do it because he's defending justification by faith alone because he his whole doctrine of justification by faith alone has made the law look like sin and death." [00:21:35]

"Sin is the culprit here so here is your closing good news when you walk out of here and you say okay I think what he said was I'm not sure but he said it one last time just as we were leaving I think what he said was to get right with God that is Justified you got to turn away from the law and law-keeping and Trust an alien righteousness provided by God in Jesus Christ." [00:23:34]

"Christ is the performance of God's righteousness and the law is pointing to that that's the goal that's the end so when you look at the law be sure you don't fixate there and begin to use it to establish your righteousness let it point you to what it's all about Christ for righteousness and then how do you get that for everyone who finish it believes this is the gospel." [00:13:24]

"There's not a righteous person in this room this morning and we're all going to die and we're all going to stand before an absolutely righteous holy perfect flaming God of Holiness who cannot tolerate sin in his presence and if anybody will be accepted it will be because they what what believe and therefore have imputed to them an alien righteousness not their own Christ's." [00:14:00]

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Understanding Righteousness: The Struggle Between Law and Grace

Devotional

Day 1: The Tension Between Law and Human Nature

Day 2: Justification by Faith Alone

Day 3: The Law as a Guide to Christ

Day 4: Living Boldly in Christ's Righteousness

Day 5: Embracing the Alien Righteousness of Christ

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

Understanding Righteousness: The Struggle Between Law and Grace

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