Understanding Righteousness: God's Standard and Our Hope
Every person longs to be made right—right with others, right with themselves, and ultimately, right with God. Romans 3 delivers the clearest explanation of how this happens—not through our efforts, but through faith in Jesus Christ.
Paul begins by making an uncomfortable but essential truth clear: we are all accountable to God. Not just answerable, but guilty. “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). That means every person, no matter how religious or moral, stands in need of a Savior.
But where the bad news reveals our need, the good news reveals God’s provision.
Paul begins by making an uncomfortable but essential truth clear: we are all accountable to God. Not just answerable, but guilty. “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). That means every person, no matter how religious or moral, stands in need of a Savior.
But where the bad news reveals our need, the good news reveals God’s provision.
Righteousness Revealed
Romans 3:21 says, “But now, apart from the law, the righteousness of God has been revealed, attested by the Law and the Prophets.” This righteousness isn’t something we achieve through rule-following or moral improvement. It is God’s own standard—His character, His perfection—on display and made available through Jesus.
From the earliest pages of Scripture, the Law and the Prophets pointed to the righteousness of God. That righteousness, fully revealed in Christ, is God’s answer to humanity’s deepest need.
From the earliest pages of Scripture, the Law and the Prophets pointed to the righteousness of God. That righteousness, fully revealed in Christ, is God’s answer to humanity’s deepest need.
Righteousness Received
How do we receive this righteousness? “The righteousness of God is through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe” (Romans 3:22).
Faith isn’t just belief—it’s surrender. It’s being persuaded that Jesus is who He says He is: the Son of God who died for our sins and rose again. It’s trusting Him alone for salvation and choosing to follow Him. Faith is not mere affirmation of facts. It is personal, life-altering trust.
And this righteousness is freely given. “They are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:24). Redemption implies a price—and Jesus paid it. He delivered us from the bondage of sin and Satan, not with silver or gold, but with His blood.
Faith isn’t just belief—it’s surrender. It’s being persuaded that Jesus is who He says He is: the Son of God who died for our sins and rose again. It’s trusting Him alone for salvation and choosing to follow Him. Faith is not mere affirmation of facts. It is personal, life-altering trust.
And this righteousness is freely given. “They are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:24). Redemption implies a price—and Jesus paid it. He delivered us from the bondage of sin and Satan, not with silver or gold, but with His blood.
Righteousness Demonstrated
At the cross, God displayed the full weight of His justice and the fullness of His love. “God presented him as the mercy seat by his blood, through faith, to demonstrate his righteousness” (Romans 3:25).
This act wasn’t reactionary. It was intentional. In His restraint, God had passed over sins committed before Christ’s coming. But through Jesus, He poured out the wrath that sin deserved—not on us, but on His Son. In doing so, He remained both just and the justifier of those who believe.
This act wasn’t reactionary. It was intentional. In His restraint, God had passed over sins committed before Christ’s coming. But through Jesus, He poured out the wrath that sin deserved—not on us, but on His Son. In doing so, He remained both just and the justifier of those who believe.
The Only Right Response
What does this leave for us to boast about? Nothing. “Where then is boasting? It is excluded... a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law” (Romans 3:27-28).
This gospel humbles us. It reminds us that salvation is entirely God’s gift. We don’t earn it. We receive it.
If you’ve never trusted Christ, the invitation is clear: confess your sin, believe in Jesus, and receive the righteousness of God. And for the believer—this truth fuels humility, gratitude, and obedience. We don’t pursue righteousness to earn God’s favor. We pursue it because we’ve already received it by grace.
God has revealed the way. It’s not through effort—it’s through faith. And He offers it to all who believe.
This gospel humbles us. It reminds us that salvation is entirely God’s gift. We don’t earn it. We receive it.
If you’ve never trusted Christ, the invitation is clear: confess your sin, believe in Jesus, and receive the righteousness of God. And for the believer—this truth fuels humility, gratitude, and obedience. We don’t pursue righteousness to earn God’s favor. We pursue it because we’ve already received it by grace.
God has revealed the way. It’s not through effort—it’s through faith. And He offers it to all who believe.
This blog is based on a message preached by Associate Discipleship Pastor on Sunday, June 8, as part of the Romans: The Righteousness of God series. You can watch the full message here.
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