Romans 3:21-26
21 But now, apart from the law, God’s righteousness has been revealed—attested by the Law and the Prophets 22 —that is, God’s righteousness through faith in Jesus Christ, to all who believe, since there is no distinction. 23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. 24 They are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. 25 God presented Him as a propitiation through faith in His blood, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His restraint God passed over the sins previously committed. 26 God presented Him to demonstrate His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be righteous and declare righteous the one who has faith in Jesus.
How does one get saved? Why did Jesus have to die for our sins? Why can’t our works be good enough to make it into heaven? These questions will be answered through verse by verse exposition on Romans 3:21-26.
21 But now, apart from the law, God’s righteousness has been revealed—attested by the Law and the Prophets
The Law could not and did not reveal the righteousness of God that we see in Jesus Christ. The Law was to show us how short we fall to God’s standards and cannot acquit us of our shortcomings. The Law and the prophets pointed to the Messiah’s sacrifice through the sacrificial system of animals.
22 —that is, God’s righteousness through faith in Jesus Christ, to all who believe, since there is no distinction.
God’s righteousness is obtained through Jesus’ merit, not ours. He lived a sinless life by obeying God’s commands (the Law). When one puts their faith in Jesus, His righteousness gets added to our account.
23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
We are born in sin and are guilty even in our mother’s womb. We are dirty rags and dirty rags just make things dirtier.
24 They are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.
We are considered righteous through Jesus’ favor (something we didn’t deserve) in which He took our punishment upon Himself. Jesus didn’t have to die for us but His love for us compelled Him.
25 God presented Him as a propitiation through faith in His blood, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His restraint God passed over the sins previously committed.
Propitiation is something that satisfies God’s wrath. God in His justice has to punish sin. Jesus presented Himself as our sacrifice and took the wrath of God so we don’t have to. All the saints that lived before Christ, their sins were also added to the cross.
26 God presented Him to demonstrate His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be righteous and declare righteous the one who has faith in Jesus.
God’s righteousness is demonstrated in His justice of condemning and punishing sin through His son Jesus Christ’s death, burial and resurrection. Whoever places their trust in Jesus and believe that He died for us and rose from the grave will have eternal life.
Spiritual Minefield 