Romans 3 v 21 – 31
21But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it– 22the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: 23for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24and are justified by His grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25whom 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. 26It 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.
27Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith. 28For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law. 29Or is God the God of Jews only? Is He not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, 30since God is one–who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith. 31Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law. (ESV)
After reading the dark picture that we see in the preceding chapters, he comes to this little word ‘but’ – but now, things are changing now. And he explains how the righteousness of God has been revealed. And he tells us it was reviewed, in part, even by the law and the prophets.
- God’s righteousness is apart from the Law
- God’s righteousness is witnessed by the Law
- God’s righteousness eliminates boasting by man
The most famous verse is ‘Thou shall not judge’ because righteousness does not matter anymore. No, it does! The righteousness of God is set out for us in His Law. We all fall short of it, and we are justified by faith alone in Christ alone. You’ve once again heard the Good News this morning from the Lord’s Word. Are you sure that you put your trust in Him alone, that you are justified by faith in Christ alone in this righteousness of God, that He is revealed to us so wonderfully in Christ?