"God made me for a purpose, but he also made me fast and when I run, I feel his pleasure."
Faith in Jesus Christ
This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. Romans 3:22
The gospel is at times too simple for people. All you need to be a Christian is "faith in Jesus Christ". We think we need to earn it. We think we need to make a contribution, go halves with God. Paul did not say righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe and though living a good life and giving lots of money to the poor.
No it comes "through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe".[FULL STOP] It is so hard for us to grasp this and understand it. CS Lewis in The Lion, the witch and wardrobe writes of "deeper magic" and "Death itself would start working backwards". So great is the achievement of Jesus Christ that not only is death defeated; it seems even to be working backwards!
This is so simple that you may ask why I am devoting a whole email to it. It is simple but it is also the key to understanding who we are as people and the basis for our relationship with God. Our value as people, our destiny, is that we have received God's righteousness through faith in Christ. Whether you play in the Premiership or division 5 or a local league, your value is based on what you have received by faith in Christ.