◄ What Does Romans 3:22 Mean? ►

The sinful nature of the entire human race stands in stark contrast with the infinite righteousness of the eternal God. Humanity's depravity is systematically laid out in the first three chapters of Romans, and Paul makes it crystal clear that there is no-one who is righteous, all are under sin, and no one is exempt from the condemnation and wrath of God.

Until Christ came into the world, righteousness was displayed through the Law, which was given to man through God's prophets of old. But the standard of righteousness the Law demands is unattainable due to humanity's sinfulness. But from Romans 3:21, a righteousness apart from keeping the Law starts to be revealed: the righteousness that comes from God as a free gift of grace.

Paul starts to explain how the righteousness of God is able to be attained by man, but the only way that man can attain to righteousness is to be declared righteous by God; to be imputed with God's own perfect righteousness. But His righteousness is only given by grace through faith in the death, burial, and Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins and life everlasting. The righteousness of God is revealed in our justification by grace through faith in Christ and there is no other way.

The Law was incapable of making a man righteous. Indeed, the Law was simply a tool to expose men's sinfulness and Old Testament prophets testified to this fact, reminding us that the just will live by faith and not by works of the Law. Scripture is a witness to the truth that the righteousness of God is only imputed to man by faith, and not as a result of merit, parentage, nationality, colour, race, age, or sex.

Paul wants to make it crystal clear that apart from the unattainable righteousness of the Law, the righteousness of God is attainable to all, but it is only obtained through faith in Jesus Christ. The righteousness of God is only imputed to those who believe in Him, and there is no distinction. It makes no difference if one is Jewish or Gentile, male or female, black or white, young or old, the righteousness of God is freely available to all, through faith in Christ's finished work at Calvary.

Praise God that although we were sinners, Christ died for us. We have been declared righteous in Him, not by works of the Law, for by works of the Law shall no man living be justified, but by the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ the eternal Son of God Who became the perfect Son of Man and the only sacrifice for the sin of the world.

Heavenly Father, thank You that You are a righteous God and that You chose to redeem mankind by means of the death, burial, and Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. Thank You that I have been imputed with the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ, and that all who trust in Him for salvation will also be declared righteous, through time and into eternity. In Jesus' name, AMEN.