Do All Roads Lead to God?

Romans 3

We are all going under!  3:9; 3:23

But God has justified us: He declares us right through Jesus Christ! 3:22-25

The Basis:

• Jesus is the only one who can redeem us.  vs. 24

• Jesus is the only one who can more than satisfy God’s wrath.   vs. 25

The Result:

• God charges our sins to Jesus

• God credits Jesus’ righteousness to us.

The Connection: 

• Only through faith     vv. 22, 25, 26, 27, 28, 30, 31

Take Home Idea:   Jesus Christ is our only way to God because it is only in Jesus Christ that we are declared right with God!

"Do All Faiths Lead to God?" Small Group Discussion Questions

Opening:

Who was your favorite “superstar” when you were a kid?  What made him or her so special?

How would you respond to Charles Templeton’s comment, “Christians are a small minority in the world. …  more than five 5 billion people who live on earth revere or worship more than three hundreds gods.  . . . Are we to believe that only Christians are right?”   

Review Pastor Joel's sermon.  What struck you about the sermon?  What do you have questions about?

Dig:  

From verses 9-18, list what is said regarding human thought, direction, speech and action. How does this list make you feel?

Look at vs. 21-22.  What do these verses teach about the righteousness from God?  What does it mean, “apart from the law” and “to which the Law and the Prophets testify’?

Look up “justification”, “redemption” and “propitiation” in the dictionary.  What everyday examples could you use to illustrate each word?  What is the Biblical meaning of each of these words?  What does each of these words point out about the death of Jesus?

Paul never mentions “faith alone” in these verses.  Do you think Paul was talking about “faith alone” here?  Why or why not?  

Compare what James said about faith (James 2:24) with what Paul says here.  Why is what James said not at odds with what Paul describes as the doctrine of justification by faith alone?

What do you think about the statement:  “Justification is the heart of the gospel and unique to Christianity.”  (John Stott)?  Why or why not?  Where does this leave other religions?

Reflect:

When did the message of God’s grace become real to you?  What impact is it having in your life right now?

Close by spending some time together as a group, sharing and praying for each other.