The Gospel Project® for Adults

POINT 1 FAITH IN CHRIST CHANGES A PERSON’S STANDING BEFORE GOD (ROM. 5:1-2).

1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we
have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
2 We have also obtained access through him by faith
into this grace in which we stand,
and we boast in the hope of the glory of God.

Explain:

Verse 1 highlight the following key doctrine on faith (the bold words fill in blanks in the DDG):

Key Doctrine #68:

Faith:

Biblical faith is the resting,
or trusting, in Christ alone for salvation
(John 3:16-21).
More than being simply a mental agreement of historical facts,
genuine faith begins with a recognition and confession
of the truth of the gospel
(1 John 4:13-16),
followed by a receiving of Christ as Lord and Savior of one’s life
(John 1:10-13).
Biblical faith is not blind faith, for it rests on the historical life,
death, and resurrection of Christ.

Discuss:

• What are some signs we might be leaning toward a works-based salvation
  instead of justification by faith?
• (many identify with feeling they need to clean themselves up before coming to Jesus;
• when asked to give a definition of how to become a Christian,
  anything more than repentance and faith in Jesus may be a sign of works-based salvation;
• sometimes in our sin, we try to do good works to make up for it)

Explain:

Verse 2 (the bold words fill in blanks in the DDG):

Because of Jesus and the grace we are given,
we have a right standing before God,
and we rejoice looking forward to the day
when God’s glory is Christ is revealed
for all to see.

Discuss:

• How can our lives reflect the joy we have
  in the hope of the glory of God?
• (our joy should lead us to share the gospel more;
• our joy in God’s glory should help us worry less;
• our joy in God’s glory should help us be more obedient to Him)

Transition:

There are so many glorious transformations
that happen instantly when we place our faith in Christ.
But that first moment of faith opens the door
to an even deeper relationship with God.

JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH

Justification refers to the moment
when a person is objectively declared righteous before God
based on the righteousness of Christ’s atoning death
(Rom. 8:33-34).
This act of declaration takes place through faith in Christ
and not as a result of human works or effort
(Eph. 2:8-9).
Through justification, a person is made to be in right standing before God,
changing what was once an estranged and hostile relationship
to one of adoption into the family of God.

VOICES FROM THE CHURCH

“We can picture faith as a connection between the work of the Holy Spirit
and the power at work in our new nature.
Faith is a wire that conducts a current called grace
that flows from the Spirit so that the new nature receives power.” 1

– Tony Evans