21But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, 23for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 25God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— 26he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus. (NIV)
A Glossary for this Most Important Paragraph!
righteousness – a status of being “in-the-right” with God, or being shown favour by Him.
justified – declared to be just (i.e. in a right standing with God), free of any guilt.
grace – God’s dealing with humanity in ways undeserved.
redemption – Christ’s delivering us from the penalty of our sin by paying it Himself.
atonement – a way of describing Christ’s substitutionary death, in that Christ’s blood “covered” our sin in the sight of God.
justice – “God’s requirement that humans adhere to the standards He set” (Erickson, Concise Dictionary of Christian Theology)
Main Points and Discussion Questions
1. Though the whole human race stands condemned before God because of sin, those who put their trust in Jesus Christ will receive the gift of a right standing before God. (vv. 21-24).
Discussion Question 1A: What are the two kinds of righteousness described in verse 21? Which one can be ours? Why? Which one cannot be ours? Why not?
Discussion Question 1B: What does Paul mean by “The Law and the Prophets”? How do these testify to the “righteousness of God apart from law”? Can you give examples from Scripture?
Discussion Question 1C: Why is the gift of God’s righteousness such good news? Why do we as Christians need to “preach this to ourselves” whether we have recently come to faith, or have been disciples of Christ for years?
2. Jesus’ substitutionary death on the cross satisfied the wrath of God; therefore, God is just to “acquit” sinners who place their trust in this death and the One who suffered it.
Discussion Question 2A: How does Christ’s substitutionary death demonstrate God’s justice? His love?
Discussion Question 2B: How might this passage help to explain why Paul could say, in other New Testament letters, that he wanted to “know nothing… except Christ and him crucified” (1 Co 2:2) and that he never wanted to boast “except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Gal 6:14)
Discussion Question 2C: Read 1 Timothy 1:15-17. How does the message of Christmas relate to the message of today’s Romans passage? How will these messages affect your life during this holiday season?
