The good news of the gospel is we do not contribute anything to our justification. We, like Abraham, are declared righteous by faith. In fact, in Romans 4, Abraham is presented as the example of saving faith for everyone, Jew and Gentile alike. And what Paul is careful to explain is that our being made right with God is a gift of grace that is received by faith apart from anything else. Our faith in Christ, by God's grace, is sufficient for God to acquit us of our sin, and to declare us perfectly righteous. That is the root of our justification. Baptism and obedience then are the fruit. Listen to this weeks message.
