ROMANS 3:21 BUT NOW, THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD

[douge]

Romans 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:

In Romans 3:9 Paul has proven that both Jew and Gentile alike are under sin; there is none righteous.

3:19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.

The Jew is under the law. The law has shown them to be guilty. The law has shown them to be under sin.

The Gentiles have the law written in the heart as evidenced by the conscience and having sinned without the law, will perish without the law (Romans 2:12).

3:20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

If there was a law given which could have given life, righteousness should have been by the law (Galatians 3:21) but none could keep the law. The purpose of the law was to reveal sin and drive us to seek the grace of God.

3:21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;

But Now, the righteousness of God without the law is manifested. This righteousness was witnessed by the law, which is not of faith and could not make any righteous (Galatians 3:11) ; this righteousness was witnessed by the prophets (Habakkuk 2:4).

3:22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:

The righteousness of God is by faith. The faith of Jesus Christ is that Jesus Christ is the object of our faith; it is in him that our faith is placed. The righteousness of God is unto all, both Jew and Gentile. The righteousness of God is placed upon all that believe; all who believe in Christ and believe the gospel (Romans 1:16).

3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

3:24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

All have sinned and come short; all are unable to save themselves and fall short of the righteousness found in the glory of God. God extended grace through the redemption of Christ who paid for our sins. God has justified us freely; God has placed upon us his righteousness freely in Christ Jesus without works, without covenants.

3:25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;

God has set forth Jesus as the propitiation, our mercy seat, and has appeased the righteous judgment of God on us and our sin. God in the past forgave sin, but how he could forgive and be just was not known. God could forgive sin by the propitiation of Jesus Christ and still uphold his righteousness.

3:26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

God is just and righteous in forgiving our sin; the propitiation of Jesus Christ satisfies the justice of God and allows him to justify those who believe in Jesus.

[Willa]

Rom 4:5  And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness,