THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD MADE KNOWN

Passage: Romans 3:21-31

Key verse: 21

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.

27 Where, then, is boasting?(O) It is excluded. Because of what law? The law that requires works? No, because of the law that requires faith. 28 For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.(P) 29 Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too,(Q) 30 since there is only one God, who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith.(R) 31 Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Not at all! Rather, we uphold the law.

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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.

27 (O)Then 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. 28 For we hold that one is justified by faith (P)apart from works of the law. 29 Or (Q)is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, 30 since (R)God is one—who will justify the circumcised by faith and (S)the uncircumcised through faith. 31 Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law.

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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

We have here good news and bad news. The bad news is that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Not one person is righteous. Not even one! This means no one can be righteous on our own. But there is also good news! The good news is that, in the gospel, there is a righteousness that is apart from law that is made known. This righteousness is the free gift of God that comes through faith in Jesus Christ our Lord. And this righteousness is free to all, Jews and Gentiles alike. For just as we are all sinners, we are all made righteous through the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ, for Christ died on the cross so that all our sins would be forgiven, and we would be declared righteous by God.

The Jews counted themselves as righteous because of their adherence to the Law. If that were true, they could certainly boast. There is no boasting in the gospel of Jesus Christ, for it is not what we have done, but what Christ did for us that makes us righteous.

Prayer: Father, thank you for your righteousness that comes through faith in Jesus Christ. Thank you that you sent him as a sacrifice of atonement that all who believe are counted righteous in your sight.

One Word: Righteousness and redemption to all who believe in Jesus Christ