In the book of Romans, the Apostle Paul builds what some call the quintessential gospel treaty. Paul goes to great lengths to ensure that Israel understands the covenants made with Abraham and Moses and how this relates to the finished work of Christ that brings us the New Covenant. Today we will look at Romans 1-4 which lays the foundation for a proper understanding of the Gospel and the New Covenant. He assumes the reader understands the stories of the Hebrew scriptures and draws consistently from them as Jesus did. Again, he finds it essential to begin by debunking the myth that getting right with God has anything to do with our good works.

For if Abraham was justified (established as just by acquittal from guilt) by good works [that he did, then] he has grounds for boasting. But not before God! For what does the Scripture say? Abraham believed in (trusted in) God, and it was credited to his account as righteousness (right living and right standing with God). [Gen_15:6] Now to a laborer, his wages are not counted as a favor or a gift, but as an obligation (something owed to him). But to one who, not working [by the Law], trusts (believes fully) in Him Who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited to him as righteousness (the standing acceptable to God).

(Romans 4:2-5 AMPC)

Paul, like in Ephesians, makes it clear that if we have anything to do with our salvation other than simply trusting what God did, we have grounds for what he calls “boasting.” God does not want anyone in the Kingdom of Heaven taking credit for the blood of the Lamb. Jesus’ blood is the only thing worthy of “boasting in.” The entire first half of the book of Romans is Paul making this truth clear because He knows the bondage that comes from legalistic religion.

For the promise to Abraham or his posterity, that he should inherit the world, did not come through [observing the commands of] the Law but through the righteousness of faith. [Gen_17:4-6; Gen_22:16-18] If it is the adherents of the Law who are to be the heirs, then faith is made futile and empty of all meaning and the promise [of God] is made void (is annulled and has no power). For the Law results in [divine] wrath, but where there is no law there is no transgression [of it either]. Therefore, [inheriting] the promise is the outcome of faith and depends [entirely] on faith, in order that it might be given as an act of grace (unmerited favor), to make it stable and valid and guaranteed to all his descendants--not only to the devotees and adherents of the Law, but also to those who share the faith of Abraham, who is [thus] the father of us all.

(Romans 4:13-16 AMPC)

If you still are detoxing from legalistic religion, then you are not experiencing the freedom that comes from the New Covenant. Reflect on Paul’s words in the third chapter of Romans if you question whether anyone on Earth could be righteous apart from Christ.

As it is written, None is righteous, just and truthful and upright and conscientious, no, not one. [Psa_14:3] No one understands [no one intelligently discerns or comprehends]; no one seeks out God. [Psa_14:2] All have turned aside; together they have gone wrong and have become unprofitable and worthless; no one does right, not even one! Their throat is a yawning grave; they use their tongues to deceive (to mislead and to deal treacherously). The venom of asps is beneath their lips. [Psa_5:9; Psa_140:3] Their mouth is full of cursing and bitterness. [Psa_10:7] Their feet are swift to shed blood. Destruction [as it dashes them to pieces] and misery mark their ways. And they have no experience of the way of peace [they know nothing about peace, for a peaceful way they do not even recognize]. [Isa_59:7-8] There is no [reverential] fear of God before their eyes. [Psa_36:1] Now we know that whatever the Law says, it speaks to those who are under the Law, so that [the murmurs and excuses of] every mouth may be hushed and all the world may be held accountable to God. For no person will be justified (made righteous, acquitted, and judged acceptable) in His sight by observing the works prescribed by the Law. For [the real function of] the Law is to make men recognize and be conscious of sin [not mere perception, but an acquaintance with sin which works toward repentance, faith, and holy character].

(Romans 3:10-20 AMPC)