Bad News First

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.
Romans 3:23-24

PAUL ADDRESSES SIN in the book of Romans. He begins by asserting that God alone is righteous. The word upright is close to its definition but still insufficient to fully describe what it means. But whatever the exact definition of righteousness, humankind doesn't have it. What to do to acquire it or to established a relationship with God is what sets Christianity apart from the religious of the world.
   In his letters Paul fits the whole world on trial before God, just as prosecutor would do in a courtroom. He begins with charging the nature embodied God's power and qualities, yet humankind turned its back on God. Then he examine the moralists, the Jews, who were just as guilty even if God had already revealed Himself through the law.
   Then Paul goes to the bottom line of his argument and concludes, "There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one." (Romans 3:10-12).
   If we stopped there, it would be a very dismal picture from his pessimistic assessment of human nature and failures. But Paul takes the next step. He explain that God canceis out human failure that He calks "justification." And bit is the result of what did which we accept in simple faith, taking God at His word. Paul put it this way."For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed. A righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: " The righteous will lives by faith"' (Romans 1: 16-17). Righteousness isn't something you can do for yourself because Christ did it all for you.