January 31 , 2001
Reading
“But now the
righteousness of God … is revealed” (21)
Four times in six verses the righteousness of God is spoken of. This is not in comparison to the law but as the fulfillment of it. The law was righteous for it was given by God, and everything that proceeds from God is righteous because His is righteous.
The righteousness of God
revealed. The difference now is that it is revealed “apart from the law”.
This means that it was to be found in the law and that it now stands alone
because the law has been fulfilled in the person of Jesus Christ. The law has
fulfilled it’s purpose. “The law was our tutor to
bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after faith has
come, we are no longer under a tutor” Gal:
How is the righteousness of God revealed apart from the law? It is “through faith in Christ Jesus, “even the righteousness of God, through faith in Christ Jesus” (22). Jesus does not represent the righteousness of God or merely speak of it, He is God and therefore He is Righteousness. To see Him is to see Righteousness. The law and the prophets contained the righteousness of God but Jesus Christ is Righteousness personified.
How does righteousness behave in a sinful world? See
the life of Jesus. How does righteousness respond to sin? See the life and
death of Him who is pure righteousness. He is our Example and our Model. It
should be the goal and intent of all who love the Lord to be “filled with the
fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of
God” (Phil:
The righteousness of God is witnessed by the law and the prophets. Before Christ, the law and the prophets revealed God’s righteousness: the blessings and cursings; the glory and judgments; the call to repentance and the promise of condemnation, all are witnessed in and are evidence of His righteousness. His total dealings with His people and the ungodly nations – this is God’s righteousness in action. The prophets spoke of it and their writings contain the righteousness of the Almighty God for the past, present and future. He does not change therefore His righteousness is unchangeable.
The righteousness of God is
revealed to us through faith in Jesus Christ (22). As we believe in Christ,
the righteousness of God is imputed to us. Speaking of the faith Abraham, Paul
writes, “it was accounted to him for righteousness.
Now it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him, but also
for us. It shall be imputed to us who believe in Him who raised up Jesus our
Lord from the dead” (Rom: 4:22-24). Upon salvation, the very life of God is
placed in us, it becomes a part of us. We are indwelt
by the Holy Spirit whi is Righteousness. Herein lies the course for the spiritual battle recorded in Romans
7. The righteousness of God is and will be forever at odds with the desires of
the flesh, “For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the
flesh” (Gal:
The Righteousness of God is
revealed “to all and on all” (22). Both Jew and Gentile, for there is no
difference between the twp (Rom:
The righteousness of God is demonstrated in the death of Christ (25). Christ is the ‘propitiation’ for our sins. Through Him and Him alone are our sins dealt with. Jesus is the Righteousness of God and in and through Him it is clearly demonstrated.