The One Truth That Will Change You Forever

"But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus." Romans 3:21-26  ESV

I’ve been meditating on the book of Romans a lot lately, where Paul expounds the glorious gospel of God’s Son. It really is more glorious than this article can express. The gospel is ever sweeter day after day and week after week. It is God’s power to save sinners from beginning to end. My prayer is that God uses this little article to lead you to repentance and worship and deeper joy. 

It can be argued that the central theme of the book is “God’s righteousness” or “the righteousness of God” that is available to all people “apart from the law”. This is astonishing. The righteousness of God is the free gift of God’s righteousness that He credits to anyone who simply believes in Christ apart from works of the law. What!? This is shocking and completely contrary to all man-made religions and human instincts. We live in a “do good and be rewarded, do bad and be punished” mindset. But here’s the deal. ALL PEOPLE HAVE SINNED. ALL PEOPLE ARE INHERENTLY BAD. There is no good person in the world. Only God is good. And therefore, no one will be justified (i.e. counted righteous / made right with God) through works because everyone has broken God’s law. Everyone does bad works. Even more, we do good works for the wrong reasons, making them bad works. What you earn for your sin is wrath, death, condemnation. Sin is horrible and so is its consequences. Yet, the consequences for sin are perfectly just, because God is just. So what hope is there for us? 

It is under the ominous cloud of God’s wrath and justice that Paul holds forth the surprising wonder of the gospel that any sinner, no matter what they have done, can be justified through simple faith in Jesus Christ, apart from any works of the law. In fact, the only way anyone can be justified (i.e. counted righteous) is through faith in Christ, not works. There is no other way to God’s righteousness than simple faith in a perfect Christ. Anyone who tries to achieve righteousness will always fail to measure up. So, God gave His Son as a sacrifice for sin (“propitiation") so that He can be “just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.” The joy of the gospel is that we can finally stop trying to achieve a perfect standard of righteousness (which is impossible!) and simply receive God’s righteousness as a free gift through faith in Christ. Through faith we are united to Christ who is our righteousness and redemption. Incredible! Who can fathom such shocking mercy and other-worldly love!

This proves that God is just because Jesus took the death penalty for our sin, once and for all. This also shows God’s great love because He joyfully justifies anyone who puts their faith in Jesus and His saving work on the cross. It’s at the cross that Jesus paid our debt. It’s through faith in Jesus’ performance that God counts us righteousness, entirely apart from our works. 

This is the most offensive thing ever to those who insist on justifying themselves by their works. This is amazing grace and joy inexpressible for those who despair of their own works and look to Christ alone for mercy and justification. This gospel justifies us, stabilizes us, strengthens us, matures us, and glorifies us in Christ. 

Are you trying to achieve God’s righteousness? Have you looked to Christ on the cross who fulfilled the law for you and tasted death for you? If not, now is the time to look. As John the Baptist cried out, “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” When you look in faith, God counts it to you as perfect righteousness. 

Are you struggling with assurance or spiritual sloth or indifference or coldness or weakness? Look again and again to Christ who is your perfect righteousness and who forever lives to intercede for you. Be strengthened by grace! Be strengthened by the good news. Be assured by His accomplishments, his perfection, his faithfulness, his presence, and by your unbreakable union with the “Righteous One”.