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The Righteousness of God Revealed in the Gospel
Hosted by Dave JenkinsEpisode Summary
In this episode of Anchored in the Word with Dave, Dave Jenkins explains Romans 1:16–17 and the righteousness of God revealed in the gospel.The gospel is not helpful advice, moral improvement, or religious self-help. It is the power of God for salvation because it reveals how sinners can be made right with a holy God through Jesus Christ alone.Dave unpacks the meaning of the righteousness of God, justification by faith alone, the importance of Habakkuk 2:4, and why Romans 1:16–17 became so central to the Protestant Reformation. He also explains how this truth helps Christians rest in Christ rather than their own performance.Listen
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Key Scriptures
- Romans 1:16–17
- Habakkuk 2:4
- 2 Corinthians 5:21
- Philippians 3:9
- Galatians 2:16
Episode Highlights
- Why Romans 1:16–17 is central to Paul’s message in Romans
- What Paul means by “the righteousness of God”
- How the gospel reveals God’s justice and grace
- Why sinners cannot achieve righteousness through personal effort
- How believers are justified by faith alone in Christ alone
- Why this doctrine became central to the Protestant Reformation
- How Christians can rest in Christ rather than their own performance
The Gospel and the Righteousness of Christ
Romans 1:16–17 teaches that the gospel is the power of God for salvation because it reveals the righteousness of God. This righteousness refers both to God’s holy character and to the righteousness He provides through Jesus Christ alone.Believers are not justified because of their works, achievements, morality, or self-improvement. They are declared righteous before God because the righteousness of Christ is credited to them through faith. This is the heart of justification by faith alone in Christ alone.Reflection Question
Are you trusting in your own righteousness, or are you resting completely in the righteousness of Christ?The gospel does not reveal how sinners earn righteousness. It reveals how God provides righteousness through Jesus Christ alone.Subscribe and Watch More
Anchored in the Word with Dave is a weekly segment of the Servants of Grace podcast, helping Christians stay rooted in Scripture and anchored in Christ.Visit the Anchored in the Word page for more episodes, articles, and biblical resources.Watch the Anchored in the Word playlist on YouTube.
Dave Jenkins is happily married to his wife, Sarah, and lives in beautiful Southern Oregon. He is a writer, editor, and speaker who loves Christ, His people, the Church, and sound theology.
Dave serves as the Executive Director of Servants of Grace Ministries and the Executive Editor of Theology for Life Magazine. He is the Host and Producer of the Equipping You in Grace Podcast and a contributor to and producer of Contending for the Word.
He is the author of The War of Worldviews: Truth, Lies, and the Battle for the Christian Mind (Theology for Life, 2026), Contentment: The Journey of a Lifetime (Theology for Life, 2024), The Word Matters: Defending Biblical Authority Against the Spirit of the Age and The Word Explored: The Problem of Biblical Illiteracy and What To Do About It (House to House, 2021).
You can connect with Dave on Facebook, X (Twitter), Instagram, YouTube, or subscribe to his newsletter.
When he is not engaged in ministry work, Dave enjoys spending time with his wife, going to movies, sharing a meal at a favorite restaurant, or playing a round of golf with friends. He is also a voracious reader, particularly of Reformed theology and the Puritans, and is often found working through a stack of new books from a wide range of Christian publishers.
Dave earned his M.A.R. and M.Div. from Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary.
