BEAUTIFUL WORDS
Romans 3:21-24 NKJV
21 But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22 even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,
These four verses contain some of the simplest and best theology that you'll ever find. One of the key words in these verses is righteousness, being right in God's sight.
Before Jesus, the Jews would try to obtain righteousness by keeping the Law of Moses. The problem was they could not keep the Law successfully enough to obtain the righteousness of God. But now, since Jesus came, the righteousness of God is obtainable. But this righteousness is apart from the Law. The Law and the Prophets spoke of this righteousness that is through faith in Jesus Christ. Verse 22 says, "even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference."
This is saying so much. This is such good news. No longer is mankind struggling to be made right in God's sight. This internal struggle is at the core of all people. The Jews had the advantage of at least knowing who the one true God was. But even with the Law, being right before God was out of reach. Enter Jesus to pay the price for our sins and make righteousness available to all who believe, whether they are Jews or Gentiles. Verse 23 applies to all mankind. "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Righteousness is available to all who have faith in Jesus for all have sinned. All is all of mankind, which means the idea that being good is good enough to make me right in God's sight is a false pretense.
It's great to be good in a society where so much bad is present. But there is a difference between societal good and right in God's sight. Being good to your neighbor is appreciated but still falls short of God's glory. If man could have earned righteousness with God there would have been no need for Jesus. Paul expands on this truth in the book of Romans making a great case for righteousness only coming through faith in Christ.
Verse 24 sums up this righteous theme by declaring we have been justified by His grace. Justified, another word that implies righteousness, was once defined as "just as if I'd never sinned." "Through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus." Redemption is a word we use frequently in Christian circles, and the Olive Tree Bible Dictionary says redemption is "to let go free for a ransom." "The recalling of captives (sinners) from captivity (sin) through the payment of a ransom for them, i.e., Christ's death."
So verse 24 has three main words of New Testament doctrine—justified, redemption, and grace. Add righteousness, and we have four beautiful words that are pillars of what we believe about the gospel of Jesus Christ. That we have been made righteous in God's sight, justified by His power on our behalf that we did not earn. All this was through the redemption that came through Jesus Christ and is available to all who put their faith in Him as their Savior. That's a thumbnail sketch of the gospel and we will see these truths spelled out further in the book of Romans.
PRAYER
Thank You, Lord, that You paid the price to free me from sin and make me righteous in God's sight. I could not have done this on my own. I am eternally indebted to You.