Romans 3:21-26

²¹ “But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been revealed, being witnessed by the law and the Prophets,  ²² but it is the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction, ²³ for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, ²⁴ being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus, ²⁵ whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in God’s merciful restraint He let the sins previously committed go unpunished; ²⁶ for the demonstration, that is, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.”

Verse 21:  Paul introduces a significant shift in his message. He declares that apart from the law, the righteousness of God has been revealed. This righteousness is not based on our own efforts to keep the law, but it comes through faith in Jesus Christ. The Law and the Prophets, the Old Testament Scriptures, bear witness to this righteousness that is now available to us.

Verse 22: Paul emphasizes that this righteousness is not earned or achieved through our own works, but it is given freely to all who believe in Jesus Christ. It is a gift of grace that is available to both Jews and Gentiles alike. This highlights the inclusive nature of God’s salvation and the equal standing of all believers before him.

Verse 23: Paul reminds us that all people, regardless of their background or ethnicity, have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory. This verse underscores the universal need for salvation and the reality that no one can attain righteousness on their own. It is through faith in Christ that we receive the righteousness that we lack.

Verse 24: Paul proclaims the good news that all believers are justified freely by God’s grace. Justification is the act of being declared righteous before God. It is not something we earn or deserve, but it is a result of God’s grace and the redemption that came through Jesus Christ. Through His sacrificial death and resurrection, Jesus paid the price for our sins and secured our redemption.

Verse 25: Paul explains that God presented Jesus as a sacrifice of propitiation, a perfect offering to reconcile us to himself. Through the shedding of Jesus’ blood, our sins are forgiven and we are made right with God. This act of atonement demonstrates God’s righteousness and His willingness to deal with sin in a just and merciful way. It also shows His patience in not immediately punishing sins committed before Christ’s sacrifice.

Verse 26: Paul concludes by affirming that God’s righteousness is demonstrated in the present time through the work of Jesus Christ. Through His death and resurrection, God remains just while also justifying those who have faith in Jesus. This means that God can declare believers righteous without compromising His justice, because the penalty for sin has been fully paid by Christ.