Romans 1:17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "But the righteous man shall live by faith."
Today we are encouraged by these two wonderful realities.
1. The gift of the righteousness of God is revealed in the gospel, and
2. The recipients of that gift of righteousness are revealed as God gives them faith to believe to the end of their lives in God’s promise through Jesus Christ.
Paul drew these two realities from Scripture. He cites, "But the righteous man shall live by faith." How does a man who is a sinner, an enemy of God, live before God rather than be condemned? The answer lies in the righteousness of God. God’s righteousness demands that everyone be righteous—100% conformity to the Law of God. Furthermore, His righteousness demands justice be meted out to all who miss the mark of 100% righteousness. Here’s the good news as Paul wrote in Romans 3:21-26.
“But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness because in the forbearance of God, He passed over the sins previously committed; for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.” and also in Romans 8:1-4. “Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.”
In Jesus, God is both just and the justifier. His righteousness is revealed both in dealing with our sins and in giving us the righteousness of His Son as a gift. We know we have it because of the faith He has given us. Wow! Glory to God! This is one of many reasons, I say, we were saved to live to love with Jesus.
Acknowledgment: Music from “Carried by the Father” by Eric Terlizzi. www.ericterlizzi.com
