JbF in the thinking of Paul

• the most important teaching on this concept is found in Paul's letter to rome
• before his conversion, Paul believed that he had to earn a good relationship with god through keeping the jewish law. he was continually frustrated by his inability to do this; the more he tried the more he seemed to fail
• because of original sin, it is impossible for humans to earn a good relationship with god- only god's grace makes this possible
• humans are invited to respond to god's offer of salvation and eternal life with faith
• it is not that faith justifies a believer: god alone can justify. the faith of the believer is simply the response to the gift of grace.
• the believer can then be at peace with god and is able to live a life pleasing to god, but this arises out of the new relationship with god; it is not a way of earning that relationship
• this has always been the case, even for those who lived before Jesus- such as Abraham