How You Should Respond to Grace

A Few Thoughts to Consider

Have you ever wondered what your life would look like apart from the grace of God?

Romans 3 gives us a picture. In step-by-step progression, Paul shows us several important points about our need for God. The first point is that our background does us little good. In verse 9, he says, “both Jews and Greeks are all under sin.” Our heritage or upbringing does not give us special standing before God. No matter where we come from, we all fall under the same judgment of sin. It’s a reminder that God's grace is not based on who we are or what we’ve done; it’s based solely on his love and mercy.

Second, our desire to do right is non-existent without grace. In verses 10-18, Paul paints a vivid picture of life apart from God’s grace, quoting several Old Testament passages to illustrate that without God’s intervention, our hearts are naturally inclined away from righteousness. It doesn’t matter how much we try to be "good" on our own. Without grace, our efforts are empty. This reality can be difficult to accept, especially when we’ve placed our trust in our own moral efforts. But recognizing our inability to be righteous without God opens the door to a deeper, more genuine faith. It pushes us to surrender our self-reliance and lean fully into His grace.

Third, our “good actions” will never be enough. Verse 20 says, “For no one will be justified in his sight by the works of the law.” Adhering to rules or trying to live a “good life” will not save us. The Law, as Paul points out, was never meant to justify us but rather to reveal our need for a Savior. The Law acts like a mirror, showing us our shortcomings. It points out the flaws in our character and our desperate need for God’s grace. In this way, it drives us toward faith in Christ, the only one who can fulfill the righteous requirements of the Law on our behalf.

Fourth, our works will always fall short. Verses 23-24 state, ²³ “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; ²⁴ they are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” No matter how much good we do, we can never measure up to God’s perfect standard. But this realization doesn’t leave us hopeless—it directs us to the hope found in Jesus. His grace fills the gap our works never could, offering us a righteousness that comes through faith, not our own merit.