He Has Granted Us Righteousness - Romans 3-4

Romans 3:21-26 (ESV)

21 But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— 

22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: 

23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 

24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 

25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. 

26 It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

The title of this section in the ESV Bible is, “The righteousness of God by faith.”   As seen, the world righteousness is used four times in these few verses.   Paul is writing to tell his readers that righteousness does not come by works of the law, but by faith in Jesus.   That is the theme of Romans.  That is the center of all Christian faith.   In Paul’s day and in our day there are those who want us to earn our way to forgiveness of sin by doing works, rather than believing in faith that Jesus saved us and gave us His righteousness by His works on the cross:

2 Corinthians 5:21 (ESV)

For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

God wants us to have His righteousness.  His plan was to send His Son to keep all the Law, thereby representing us and dying for us.  Someone had to pay for the sins.  Jesus did that and through faith in Him we are clothed in God’s righteousness.  

The entire plan of God is to restore the damage that was done in the Garden of Eden.  At that time man sinned against God.   That broke the relationship between man and God.   Jesus, God’s Son, came to repair that relationship and grant us God’s righteousness.   This was necessary becuase without righteousness (holiness) no man will see God:

Hebrews 12:14 (ESV)

Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.

He has granted to us righteousness through faith, not by works of the Law.