05-13-25 part 2: Righteousness by Faith Alone: The Gospel Bridge That Cannot Be Broken
1. The Impossible Standard of the Law
Dr. Spoon opens with a deep dive into Romans 10, where Paul presents the impossible standard of the Law. Quoting Moses, he highlights that the Law demands full obedience to every command—a task that no one outside of the power of the Holy Spirit could ever accomplish. Dr. Spoon humorously yet soberly points out how our flesh, driven by hidden motives and a sinful nature, makes it impossible to fully obey God's Law on our own strength. He reminds listeners that even our best efforts, when done apart from the Spirit, are like filthy rags before God (Isaiah 64:6), and our hearts are more deceitful than we can imagine (Jeremiah 17:9).
2. The Bridge Built by Christ Alone
Transitioning into the heart of the Gospel, Dr. Spoon explains that Jesus Christ serves as the only true bridge between humanity and God. Using a powerful illustration, he describes Jesus as the cross-shaped bridge that connects us to the Father—fully God and fully man. This unique dual nature makes Jesus the only mediator capable of reconciling the divine with the human. Dr. Spoon emphasizes that salvation is not an achievement we can earn by trying harder or following more rules; it's a gift from God, established through the redeeming work of Christ on the cross, and received by faith.
3. You Can’t Climb Up—Salvation Comes Down
Dr. Spoon then passionately debunks the notion that people can reach up to heaven or down into the grave to retrieve salvation. Quoting Paul in Romans 10:6-7, he stresses that no one can ascend to bring Christ down or descend to bring Him up—God alone provides salvation from above. Faith isn’t about performing religious tasks or working our way into heaven; it’s about receiving what God has already provided. Salvation is by faith, through grace, and never by human effort or merit. Dr. Spoon reminds listeners that even their acceptance of salvation is a response to God's initiative, not their own accomplishment.
4. The Simple, Powerful Gospel
Wrapping up the message, Dr. Spoon returns to the beautiful simplicity of Romans 10:8-9—that the message of salvation is close, on our lips and in our hearts. It's not complicated: believe in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead and confess Him as Lord, and you will be saved. Dr. Spoon warns against overcomplicating the Gospel or falling into the trap of thinking we can “earn” our way into God's favor. Instead, he invites believers to rest in the assurance that salvation is a gift, received through faith alone, and to boldly share this message with a world that desperately needs it.
