The BIG Picture (Shorts)

⏱️ 2-Minute Read | Part 4 of 16 The Gospel of Grace: A Walk Through Romans Section 2: Justification by Faith (Romans 4) Justification Without Works Scripture Focus: "For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness." (Rom.4:3) Today's Lesson Romans 4 establishes the absolute distinction between working for wages and receiving a free gift through faith. The Apostle Paul uses the historical example of Abraham to dismantle any notion of human merit in justification. In ancient business practice, a worker earns a wage as a matter of debt owed by the employer. Yet God operates entirely outside this system when justifying the ungodly. To him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. This is not a reward for moral effort or religious observance, but a legal reckoning where God credits absolute righteousness to an undeserving believer. David similarly describes this...

The Gospel of Grace: A Walk Through Romans Section 2: Justification by Faith (Rom.3–5) Justified Freely by His Grace Scripture Focus: "Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:" (Rom.3:24) Today's Lesson Romans 3 establishes the ultimate equality of all humanity under sin. Both Jew and Gentile stand condemned before God, for none is righteous on their own merits. The law was never given to grant righteousness; rather, its purpose is to stop every mouth and bring knowledge of sin. By the deeds of the law, no flesh can be justified in His sight. Yet, where human effort fails completely, divine grace intervenes. God has manifested His righteousness apart from the law, witnessed by the law and the prophets. This righteousness is given unto all and upon all them that believe, without distinction or national favour. Since all have sinned and come short of the glory of God, justification cannot be earned or achieved through religious dut...

The Gospel of Grace: A Walk Through Romans Section 1: The Condemnation of All Mankind (Romans 1–3) Romans 2: The Fallacy of Self-Righteousness Scripture Focus: "For there is no respect of persons with God." (Rom.2:11) Today's Lesson Paul turns his attention from the openly ungodly to the moralist and religious hypocrite. The natural temptation when reading of extreme wickedness is to sit in judgment, assuming personal morality grants special favour with God. However, God judges according to truth, not outward appearances or religious privilege. Possessing or knowing the law does not justify anyone; only perfect obedience can satisfy its demands. Because no individual keeps the law perfectly, relying on personal works or heritage only increases condemnation. God examines the secrets of the heart, exposing hidden sins that religious performance attempts to cover. Furthermore, true circumcision is not an external, physical ritual, but a spiritual work performed in the heart ...

Gal.4:19 My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you, Paul’s heart ached for the Galatians. He had laboured to bring them the gospel of grace, yet now he found them drifting—attempting to serve Christ through their own efforts, clinging to the law as a means of righteousness. With deep sorrow, he likened his anguish to the pains of childbirth, longing for Christ to be formed in them—not by works, but by the Spirit. The Galatians had fallen into the trap of self-reliance, believing that obedience to the law could perfect what had begun in the Spirit. But Paul knew the truth: righteousness is not achieved by human willpower or fleshly striving. It is received by faith, through the Spirit, as the Word of God renews the mind and transforms the heart. Today, we face the same temptation—to measure our spiritual growth by effort rather than surrender. Yet Paul’s plea remains: Christ is formed in us not by our own strength, but by the Spirit working throu...

Our principal duty as believers, which is also the will of God for us, is to come to the knowledge of the truth, 1Tim.2:4. How do we come to the knowledge of the truth? We study the written Word of truth and learn how to rightly divide it, 2Tim.2:15. We allow the Word of God to dwell in us richly, Col.3:16. We allow it to renew our mind so that it makes us wise unto its doctrine, allowing it to reprove, correct, and instruct us. Being led by the Spirit of God is not being led by some ethereal voice or premonitions, but rather, it is simply having a knowledge and understanding of the written Word within you. You walk by the Spirit (or walk by faith) when you obey the truth of God’s Word, applying it to your life circumstances and scenarios. Notice what Paul says here, Rom.6:16  Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? 17  But God be thanked, that ye were t...

People often perform "good" deeds, but the motives behind these deeds may not always be noble. For example, some do "good" for praise, compensation, or self-improvement. However, they also commit many wrongs, like pride, lying, and harboring evil thoughts, —things that the LORD hates, Prov 6:16-19. Humans struggle to adhere even to God's 10 simple rules, but our religious practices urge adherence to sacraments, prayers, offerings, tithes, and festivals to please God and avoid damnation. Whether it's church laws, personal laws, or God's laws, our flesh is too weak to measure up, and religion can literally kill our soul, 2Cor 3:6. Paul, once a Pharisee who practiced the Law, admitted that his religion was "but dung" compared to Jesus Christ's righteousness, Phil 3:3-11. Living a perfect life is impossible, thus we must understand that our lives are NOT about our performance but about Jesus Christ living and working in us, as we walk in an int...

If Judas was a disciple of Jesus but lost his salvation as prophesied when he betrayed Jesus, what is the chances that I can lose my salvation? Salvation under the Kingdom gospel was not secure because their salvation was based on their own faith and endurance. Jesus preached that kingdom believers had to pick up their cross and follow Him, and the one who puts his hand to the plough and looks back is not fit for the kingdom, and they had to endure to the end in their faith, Matt 24:13; Mk 13:13. In this regard, Judas lost his salvation. In the Tribulation, if one turned from faith in God, it meant that one was turning in allegiance to the Antichrist, and to eternal damnation! Thus, in this time one's salvation is also not secure. Our salvation in this dispensation of grace is eternally secure! Why? Because our salvation is not based on our own works and endurance, but it is based on the perfect faith and work OF Christ. It's because of Christ that we are sealed into the Body u...

QUESTION: If God picked you up by your ankles and held you over hell and said, “Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t drop you in right now!”, what would your answer be? Only ONE answer from the following list will save you . Please note that all other entries are deceiving lies and empty vanities of men that have no power to save!   God, I tried to live a good and honest life. God, I joined a good church and worshiped you. God, I confessed Jesus as Lord and did miracles in his name. God, I love you so much, I adore Jesus Christ and I seek to please the Holy Spirit. God, I walked the church aisle and gave my heart to Jesus. God, I have my water baptism certificate folded in my Bible at home. God, I helped the local Jewish community and fixed their synagogue (acc. to Mat 25:31-46). God, I am filled with the Holy Spirit and speak in tongues. God, I believe that Jesus died for my sins and was raised for my justification. God, your word says you are faithful and just to forg...

Jesus, taught Jews that they had to endure to the end; being His second advent. He instructed them to pick up their cross and follow Him, saying that no one is fit for the kingdom of God if they put their hand to the plough and look back, Lk.9:62. These are conditions for their salvation. In our dispensation, salvation is not dependent on endurance. While Paul encourages us to endure in our service to God and the Body of Christ, our salvation is not based on works or endurance. When we respond in faith to the grace gospel, we are saved and sealed eternally into Christ. The blood of Christ provides the surety of salvation without works or performance. Paul writes in Eph.2:8-9, "by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast." Our salvation is a gift given to us by God's grace. We cannot boast! God saved us through the endurance of Christ, even unto death on the cross. Unlike Israel, it's b...

Some may believe in the necessity of water baptism, observing Sunday rest, speaking in tongues, doing good deeds, or obeying rituals, but, if they trust Christ alone and know that their works don't contribute to salvation, then they are saved. On the other hand, if they believe that certain works are required, in addition to faith, they are mixing faith and works, going against what Paul warns in Gal 3:1-3. If you are adding works to your faith for salvation, that faith you exercise implies that Christ's death was insufficient, contradicting faith in the gospel. The grace gospel teaches that salvation is solely by God's grace through faith alone, as Eph 2:8-9 states.  Paul says the following, "Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God." 1Cor7:19. Similarly, your works are nothing in the light of salvation by grace. Whether you have attempted to work for your salvation or not, know that salvation is availabl...