But now, apart from the law, the righteousness of God has been revealed, attested by the Law and the Prophets.
This is an incredible statement from Paul. But how can this be? It seems impossible, because look at:
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God;
We have all sinned, and we cannot measure up to the glory and holiness of God. What is this righteousness of God that has been revealed? How can it be apart from the law? Doesn’t the Law point us to righteousness? Isn’t doing what is right, and keeping the law, the way to be saved? Isn’t doing good the way to earn God’s favour?
Paul, you are out of your mind! You are telling us something that is utterly impossible.
they are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. God presented him as the mercy seat, by his blood, through faith, to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his restraint God passed over the sins previously committed. God presented him to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time…
What Paul reveals is that our righteousness comes not from ourselves but entirely from Jesus – through His grace, His redemption, His blood, His righteousness. Because of Jesus, God is using restraint and passes over our sins. This is incredible! The sinless Lamb of God, slain so that we may have forgiveness, and be justified, and be declared righteous before a holy God.
How is this?
The righteousness of God is through faith in Jesus Christ, to all who believe, since there is no distinction… so that he would be just and justify the one who has faith in Jesus.
Ah! This is incredible news! God will make it “just as if I never sinned”! He will justify us when we place our faith in Jesus. This is how the righteousness of God is given through faith to all who believe.
Father, thank you for sending your Son. Thank you for your restraint in passing over our sin, not because of our failed righteousness, but because of your perfect Son who died for us. What grace, what mercy, what love! Thank you, Jesus, for the blood applied. Thank you, Jesus, you have saved my life!
