THROUGH FAITH IN HIS BLOOD

Passage: Romans 3:21-26

Key verse: 25

NIV

Righteousness Through Faith

21 But now apart from the law the righteousness of God(A) has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify.(B) 22 This righteousness(C) is given through faith(D) in[a] Jesus Christ(E) to all who believe.(F) There is no difference between Jew and Gentile,(G) 23 for all have sinned(H) and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified(I) freely by his grace(J) through the redemption(K) that came by Christ Jesus. 25 God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement,[b](L) through the shedding of his blood(M)—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished(N)— 26 he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.

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Footnotes
  1. Romans 3:22 Or through the faithfulness of
  2. Romans 3:25 The Greek for sacrifice of atonement refers to the atonement cover on the ark of the covenant (see Lev. 16:15,16).
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

The Righteousness of God Through Faith

21 But now (A)the righteousness of God (B)has been manifested apart from the law, although (C)the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— 22 the righteousness of God (D)through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. (E)For there is no distinction: 23 for (F)all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 (G)and are justified (H)by his grace as a gift, (I)through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God (J)put forward as (K)a propitiation (L)by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in (M)his divine forbearance he had passed over (N)former sins. 26 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.

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The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. A righteousness from God (21-23)

God revealed his righteousness in the creation, for he created a world that is good. The problem arose when mankind rebelled. All have sinned and fall short of God's glory. God revealed his righteousness in the Law, but his people broke the Law. How can despairing sinners have hope? Our hope is in God. He is the only one who can restore broken lives and mend broken relationships. Jesus is God's righteousness. God clothes us in his righteousness when we believe in Jesus.

2. A sacrifice of atonement (24-26)

Sin cuts us off from God. The outcome of sin is death and hell. God is just; he cannot take sin lightly. He sent his only Son to be a sacrifice of atonement, to take our punishment on himself and die in the place of sinners. God promises that through faith in the blood of Jesus we are justified freely by his grace. To be justified means to be forgiven and made righteous. To be righteous means to have a right relationship with God. This is eternal life.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for cleansing my sins by the blood of Jesus.

One Word: The blood of Jesus makes me righteous