“Do you want the good news or the bad news first?” If someone asked you that, how would you answer? I would probably ask for the bad news first hoping the good news would soften the blow. That’s how Paul presented his message to the Christians in Rome. After making the sad human condition clear and proving no one could be made righteous by keeping the law (because no one could keep it perfectly), Paul announced that all hope is not lost. Thanks to Christ’s sacrifice, we are righteous, justified, and redeemed.
But now, apart from the law, the righteousness of God has been revealed, attested by the Law and the Prophets. The righteousness of God is through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe, since there is no distinction. For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God; they are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. – Romans 3:21-24 CSB
There is so much in this proclamation from Paul!
Righteousness revealed.
God finally, in His perfect timing, revealed the righteousness people had been searching for. He revealed it apart from the law, but it had been confirmed by the law all along. The law had served its purpose, to demonstrate our inability to keep it. This righteousness comes through faith alone in Christ alone to everyone who believes. God wants everyone to be saved, and Jesus died for everyone who believes.
Justification accomplished.
We have all sinned and fallen short of God’s glory, but God fixed that in one critical moment on the cross. When Jesus suffered and died a criminal’s death, it was not for His own sin, because He had none. It was for our sin. Justification doesn’t mean our sin goes unpunished; it means Jesus took the punishment for us.
Redemption guaranteed.
We were held captive by sin, and we owed a ransom we could never pay. Jesus paid it all. He bought back what was lost and we stand in a new, eternal position. Freely, by God’s grace! We did nothing to deserve this amazing sacrifice and we can do nothing to return the favor. God loves us and determines to be gracious to us for His glory.
Paul proclaimed to the Roman Christians that in Jesus, God’s righteousness had finally been revealed. There is a way to be saved. The way. The only way. To all who believe. If you have trusted in Jesus for salvation, you are righteous, justified, and redeemed. When God looks at you, He does not see your sin, He sees His son!
For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed His life, shedding His blood. – Romans 3:25 NLT
But Christ’s sacrifice can’t save you if you don’t put your faith in Him alone to do it. God provided one way. Jesus is the way! Trust in Him today and you will be righteous, justified, and redeemed, too!
*Read the rest of the current blog series, a journey through the book of Romans, beginning with The Basics of Our Faith: An Introduction to the Book of Romans.
