𝗥𝗘𝗟𝗜𝗚𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗩𝗦. 𝗥𝗘𝗗𝗘𝗠𝗣𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 — 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗗𝗜𝗙𝗙𝗘𝗥𝗘𝗡𝗖𝗘 𝗚𝗥𝗔𝗖𝗘 𝗠𝗔𝗞𝗘𝗦

𝗥𝗘𝗟𝗜𝗚𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗩𝗦. 𝗥𝗘𝗗𝗘𝗠𝗣𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 — 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗗𝗜𝗙𝗙𝗘𝗥𝗘𝗡𝗖𝗘 𝗚𝗥𝗔𝗖𝗘 𝗠𝗔𝗞𝗘𝗦

𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐑𝐎𝐃𝐔𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍

Across the ages, mankind has created religion—systems of works, rituals, and human effort meant to earn favor with God. But in the Dispensation of Grace, God reveals through Paul that salvation is not what we do for God, but what God has already done for us through Christ (Rom. 4:4–5; Eph. 2:8–9).

Religion says, "Do this to be accepted."
Grace says, "Christ did it all—believe and be saved."

Let us study the contrast between man's approach through religion and God’s approach through the finished work of Christ, as revealed uniquely to Paul for the Body of Christ.

𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗙𝗢𝗨𝗡𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗢𝗙 𝗥𝗘𝗟𝗜𝗚𝗜𝗢𝗡 — 𝗛𝗨𝗠𝗔𝗡 𝗠𝗘𝗥𝗜𝗧

(Rom. 10:3)

A. A Self-Centered Pursuit — Establishing their own righteousness.

— Rom. 10:3

B. A Sin-Blinded Perspective — Unable to see God’s righteousness.

— 2 Cor. 4:4

C. A Spiritually Futile Path — Works cannot justify.

— Rom. 4:5

𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗙𝗔𝗜𝗟𝗨𝗥𝗘 𝗢𝗙 𝗥𝗘𝗟𝗜𝗚𝗜𝗢𝗡 — 𝗛𝗨𝗠𝗔𝗡 𝗘𝗙𝗙𝗢𝗥𝗧 𝗙𝗔𝗟𝗟𝗦 𝗦𝗛𝗢𝗥𝗧

(Rom. 3:23)

A. Fallen Nature — All have sinned.

— Rom. 3:23

B. Flawed Works — Our righteousness is as filthy rags.

— Isa. 64:6

C. Future Wrath — Works cannot remove sin.

— Rom. 4:15

𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗙𝗢𝗖𝗨𝗦 𝗢𝗙 𝗚𝗥𝗔𝗖𝗘 — 𝗚𝗢𝗗’𝗦 𝗙𝗜𝗡𝗜𝗦𝗛𝗘𝗗 𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗞

(1 Cor. 15:1–4)

A. Christ Died for Us

— 1 Cor. 15:3

B. Christ Was Buried for Us

— 1 Cor. 15:4

C. Christ Rose Again for Us

— Rom. 4:25

𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗙𝗥𝗘𝗘𝗗𝗢𝗠 𝗢𝗙 𝗚𝗥𝗔𝗖𝗘 — 𝗡𝗢 𝗠𝗢𝗥𝗘 𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗞𝗦 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗦𝗔𝗟𝗩𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡

(Eph. 2:8–9)

A. Salvation Without Earning

— Rom. 11:6

B. Salvation Without Effort

— Titus 3:5

C. Salvation Without Ego — No boasting.

— Eph. 2:9

𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗙𝗥𝗨𝗜𝗧 𝗢𝗙 𝗚𝗥𝗔𝗖𝗘 — 𝗚𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗧𝗨𝗗𝗘, 𝗡𝗢𝗧 𝗚𝗨𝗜𝗟𝗧

(Rom. 12:1)

A. A Thankful Heart

— Col. 3:17

B. A Transformed Life

— Rom. 12:2

C. A Testimony of Grace

— 1 Cor. 1:4–6

𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗙𝗜𝗡𝗔𝗟𝗜𝗧𝗬 𝗢𝗙 𝗚𝗥𝗔𝗖𝗘 — 𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗣𝗟𝗘𝗧𝗘 𝗜𝗡 𝗖𝗛𝗥𝗜𝗦𝗧

(Col. 2:10)

A. Complete Standing — Nothing missing.

— Col. 2:10

B. Complete Salvation — Forgiven and justified.

— Rom. 5:1

C. Complete Security — Sealed by the Spirit.

— Eph. 4:30

𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗙𝗨𝗡𝗖𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗢𝗙 𝗚𝗥𝗔𝗖𝗘 — 𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗙𝗥𝗢𝗠 𝗔𝗖𝗖𝗘𝗣𝗧𝗔𝗡𝗖𝗘, 𝗡𝗢𝗧 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗜𝗧

(Eph. 1:6)

A. Accepted in the Beloved

— Eph. 1:6

B. Anchored by the Spirit

— Eph. 1:13

C. Activated for Service

— Eph. 2:10

𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗙𝗢𝗖𝗨𝗦 𝗢𝗙 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗚𝗥𝗔𝗖𝗘 𝗕𝗘𝗟𝗜𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗥 — 𝗖𝗛𝗥𝗜𝗦𝗧 𝗔𝗟𝗢𝗡𝗘

(Gal. 2:20)

A. Living by His Life

— Gal. 2:20

B. Leaning on His Love

— Rom. 5:8

C. Looking for His Coming

— Titus 2:13

𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗙𝗨𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗘 𝗢𝗙 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗚𝗥𝗔𝗖𝗘 𝗕𝗘𝗟𝗜𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗥 — 𝗚𝗟𝗢𝗥𝗬, 𝗡𝗢𝗧 𝗝𝗨𝗗𝗚𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧

(Rom. 5:9)

A. Rescued From Wrath

— 1 Thess. 1:10

B. Raptured to Heaven

— 1 Thess. 4:16–17

C. Reigning With Christ

— Col. 3:4

𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐂𝐋𝐔𝐒𝐈𝐎𝐍

Religion is man climbing upward to God.
Grace is God coming downward to man through Jesus Christ.

Religion says, “Do.”
Grace declares, “Done.”

In this present dispensation, salvation is not achieved but received, not by merit but by mercy, not by works but by faith, and not in religion but in Christ alone.

𝐂𝐀𝐋𝐋 𝐓𝐎 𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍

Believe the gospel of grace — Christ died, was buried, and rose again for you.
Build your life on Paul’s revelation for this dispensation.
Boldly share the difference between religion and redemption.
Be grateful each day for what Christ has DONE.

𝐅𝐈𝐍𝐀𝐋 𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒

Religion chains; grace frees.
Religion demands; grace provides.
Religion strives; grace saves.
Religion boasts; grace blesses.
Religion earns; grace gives.
Religion fails; grace finishes.
Religion tries; grace triumphs.
Religion fears; grace secures.
Religion rejects; grace redeems.