The righteous will live by faith, it does not say the righteous shall live by works or works plus faith. The righteous will live by faith and that is the beginning and the end. A person may ask, "Why do we have to live by faith?" Paul precedes to answer that question for most of the book. Paul starts immediately in verse eighteen with these very telling words, "The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all godliness and wickedness..." Paul lets us know that God is not passive about the wicked things being done. It is His wrath that is being revealed and that is at the present, not at the end times. We as humans have a problem and it is with God. How do we solve that problem? By the way as you have read the problem is worse than you think. I am jumping ahead because there are those who will say we are not ungodly and certainly not wicked so we are okay and God will say no you are not. Let the games begin. Man will play games with God. God has never ever lost. Even the wicked will try to say they didn't know any better or that they were not aware of the standard. Let the games begin. Paul's arguments goes to the heart of every issue that keeps man from having faith in Christ. People you are trying to share with have these arguments in their hearts. Make sure you read chapter one very carefully and the commentary by Stott.

Every sordid detail in this book comes back to the power of the Gospel. It is the Gospel that can blow up the chains of sin that hold people back and give them faith to live a righteous life.
When we sing Jesus is the answer we need to understand Christ is the answer and the only answer. There is no other hope,but the hope we have in Him. He is your answer right now. Believe!!!!!!