What if the one thing keeping you from peace with God is the belief that you have to earn it? We open Romans 3–5 and sit with Paul’s bold claim that all have sinned and fall short, then hear the relief: we’re justified freely by grace through the redemption in Christ Jesus. From there we follow a clear thread—Abraham’s righteousness credited by faith before circumcision, David’s forgiveness after failure, and the startling difference between wages and gifts. Every story points to one center: the finished work of Christ, received by faith, not achieved by effort.

We also tackle the tension many feel between Paul and James. Do works justify, or does faith alone? Paul explains how we’re made right with God, while James presses whether our faith is alive. Works become the fruit of union with Christ, not the currency of salvation. That keeps us from lifeless profession on one side and anxious legalism on the other. Faith has feet, but grace supplies the strength.

Along the way, we address pride in heritage, the pull of spiritual scorekeeping, and the subtle ways law-keeping creeps back into the Christian life. You’ll hear why signs like circumcision—or modern badges like baptism and service—are meaningful as seals but never sources of righteousness. You’ll also hear how the gospel levels the ground for Jew and Gentile, disciplined and recovering alike, forming a community shaped by gratitude, not comparison.

If this resonates, share it with someone who’s tired of trying to be “enough.” Subscribe for more verse-by-verse teaching through Romans, and leave a review to help others find the message of grace.

Come On Up is the radio ministry of The Mountain Cross in Waynesville North Carolina. To learn more about us please visit: TheMountainCross.com.