“But now a righteousness from God, apart from the law, has been made known to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Jesus Christ”
Romans 9:21-24
–
There is hope! There is a righteousness from God that has been made known! This righteousness from God is through faith in Jesus Christ, and received by all who believe. There is no longer any difference between Jew and Gentile, for (Paul summarizes what he has been writing thus far) we have all sinned and fallen short. Our justification—and this was breaking news in the first century!—is freely given by grace through Jesus Christ!
The word of God makes reference to this righteousness in the Law and the Prophets given to the nation of Israel hundreds of years before Jesus Christ entered human history.
“The days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will raise up to David a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land. In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. This is the name by which he will be called: The Lord Our Righteousness.”
Jeremiah 23:23:5-6
The “bad news” that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” has been superseded by the “good news” that our unrighteousness is supplanted by the righteousness of our Lord. Faith in Jesus Christ initiates this transaction by which His righteousness is transferred to our account, in exchange for our sin being placed on His side of the ledger. Now, it is not only a few (the Jews) who have access to this righteousness: just as all sin, so all have access to free justification by grace through faith in Christ Jesus.
We are made right with God freely by faith alone with no contribution from ourselves. This receipt of the righteousness of our Lord is completely undeserved; it is by grace alone. The price of our redemption has been paid by another, Jesus Christ Himself. Mercy is granted instead of the judgment we deserve.
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 5:8
God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
2 Corinthians 5:21
The assertion that all have sinned is, in this context, wonderful news. For in acknowledging that Jew and Gentile are both subject to sin, the good news of Jesus covers even us. Even our sin has been exchanged for His righteousness! This is love, wherein God has freely given us the righteousness of His Son to gain for us access into His presence like children in the arms of a loving Father. There is no greater privilege or honor that could be ours!
Questions for reflection and discussion:
- What words would you choose to describe the moment in your life when you came to the realization that Christ died for you, too?
- How can we express the depth of gratitude we owe God for what He has done on our behalf in Jesus Christ?
Church Reading Plan: Job 29; 1 Corinthians 15