Grace in a nutshell
 

One man's (Adam) disobedience made us sinners. Not our disobedience.

Sound unfair?

No worries!

The bible teaches one man's (Jesus) obedience makes us all righteous, not our obedience! We obey BECAUSE he made us righteous, not to become righteous. And righteousness is OUR TICKET TO HEAVEN!

Re: Grace in a nutshell
 

Romans 5 isn't rocket science folks.

Jesus made this all pretty painless.

If a Muslim, a Roman Catholic was to repent, they too could be set free.

No matter how many times a Muslim helped a little old lady across street could be able to win him favor with God. Nothing saves outside the Blood of the Cross. Anyone coming up any other way is a thief and a liar.

Re: Grace in a nutshell
 

Jesus obedience that made us righteous was the death of the cross.

And just as Christ was said to outdo Adam's destruction in Romans 5, it affects us by being baptized into the death of Jesus according to the very next chapter 6.

His sinless sacrifice was necessary for us to be deemed dead through His death and righteous in Him. So the cross is the only way for God to save anyone. And without the cross Jesus did not have to SUFFER LIKE HE DID so terribly.

If God has another way apart form the cross to save someone, do you think he would go through with all of that suffering? Everyone could go without the cross IF ONE PERSON CAN.

Every other way is salvation by works. We are saved by some good we do, and not the good Christ did on the cross.

Re: Grace in a nutshell
 

Re the part you said: "we obey because He has made us righteous". That is powerful.

The scripture that comes to mind is Romans 5:18-19 "...even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. For as by one man's disobedience, many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous".

Excellent way to nutshell this 2000+ year-old concept.

Righteousness is a gift and grace is a gift, and they cannot be "worked" up.... they don't exist for us without Calvary.

Re: Grace in a nutshell
 

:thumbsup