In the Beginning - Declared right in God’s sight

Romans 3:23-26 | For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past, for he was looking ahead and including them in what he would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate his righteousness, for he himself is fair and just, and he makes sinners right in his sight when they believe in Jesus.

• Summarize Romans 3:23-26 in your own words. 

• What does it mean to be ‘right in God’s sight?’

  • Why aren’t people already right in God’s sight?

  • Why do we need to be right in God’s sight? [What is the punishment if we are not?]

• How is a person made right in God’s sight? 

  • What are some other [wrong] ways people try to make themselves right in God’s sight?

  • Have you ever tried to earn or find salvation in any way apart from Jesus? 

    • If so, how? 

    • Have you changed? If not, why?