If you’ve stuck with me up to this point, you’re probably ready to hear some Good News. I know I am! Paul has preached some hard truths so far.
- The human race is evil and sin reigns in our hearts and minds.
- God hates sin, and He will judge it.
- There is nothing we can do on our own to fix the problem.
If you close the book of Romans too early, you’ll be overwhelmed by the dreadful bad news and miss the glorious Good News. Keep reading!
But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by His grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by His blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in His divine forbearance He had passed over former sins. 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. – Romans 3:21-26 ESV
Read this passage again, slowly, and notice all the incredible truths it contains. Truths that can change everything about your eternity. Let’s take a closer look.
But now
When all seemed hopeless, God made a way! He sees all and knows all. He is the master intervener with the perfect timing.
Righteousness of God
It is not our own attempt at righteousness that changes our standing before God. Only Christ’s righteousness, received by faith in His saving work on the cross, can do that.
“There is a righteousness which comes to us by faith in Jesus Christ, not by doing, but by believing, a righteousness which is freely bestowed upon all them that believe.”
Charles Spurgeon
Through faith in Jesus
Faith is trusting in Christ alone for salvation. We are justified by faith not simply because we “have faith,” but because of who we put our faith in. It is not faith that justifies us, it is Christ. Faith is the means by which we lay hold of Christ and receive His righteousness.
Faith says, “I’ve got nothing! Jesus, I need you!”
For all who believe
God desires all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. He wants no one to perish, but all to repent. He wants an eternal relationship with you, and that is why He sent Jesus.
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” – John 3:16 ESV
Justified by grace
Justified = declared innocent. Justification is not just a pardon that releases us from the penalty of our sin. Justification declares that despite our guilt, we are innocent. It is as if the crime was never committed to begin with.
“By God’s declaration, the sinner is ‘put right’ with God and possesses the status of ‘righteousness’ on the basis of the favorable verdict rendered by the Divine Judge.”
The Moody Bible Commentary
Redemption
The ransom is paid, and the prisoner is set free. We are redeemed by the blood of Jesus. He has paid the ransom to set us free from sin and its eternal consequence!
Propitiation
God is holy and His wrath against sin must be satisfied. Propitiation was Christ stepping in to handle that. In Christ, God’s wrath was appeased!
“It is plain that [God] hates sin when nothing less than the blood of Christ would satisfy for it.”
Matthew Henry
Divine forbearance
God always had a salvation plan. He saw Christ’s completed work on the cross of Calvary and determined to mercifully hold back His judgment. Divine forbearance is His patience and kindness towards us which is meant to lead us to repentance.
Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? – Romans 2:4 NKJV
When the Law revealed our hopeless state and the continual sacrifices of bulls and goats were not enough to take away our sins, Jesus came to fix the problem. And when we acknowledge our sin and put our faith in His saving work, we are set free from the penalty of our sin. We are redeemed and justified by God. That is the Good News, and faith is the key.
“Faith is a living, bold trust in God’s grace, so certain of God’s favor that it would risk death a thousand times trusting in it.”
Martin Luther
Read ahead: Romans 4
