Paul’s argument thus far might present a huge problem to the mind of a Jew, namely if we are all unrighteous, why hasn’t God destroyed us all in His anger before now? Isn’t God just? Paul explains the retroactive nature of the sacrifice of Christ in that it actually reaches back to past sins and thus shows God’s constant righteousness in dealing with an unrighteous people. Romans 3:21-26

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.

It is interesting that the minds of the self righteous are concerned primarily with one thing, their own righteousness. This writing by Paul shows a proper emphasis, the righteousness of God. Also, the manner in which God’s righteousness is manifested is in such a way that man cannot, or at least he should not, mistakenly think that he or she somehow accomplished the righteousness alone. This also shows the short-sightedness of those who think that they can justify themselves. If they really knew - if we really knew - what is being said when we think we can accomplish salvation on our own, we wouldn’t think that way. The real problem with a works based salvation is not necessarily the idea that we can do it on our own, but the idea that we would be belittling the righteousness of God. In other words, if we really knew how high the righteousness of God is, we would never think something so stupid as being able to reach it on our own. Also, to say that we could accomplish it would be to say that God is unjust. This is the real problem with any works based salvation, or even works based thinking; it is a degradation of the righteousness of God. For God’s righteousness is so holy, some would say so alien, that it can only be given by God, it can never be accomplished by anyone but Him.

I love how Paul points out that the “law and the prophets” have witnessed to the righteousness that is to be found through faith in Christ Jesus. In other words, this was one of the primary purposes of the law and the prophets, to draw the attention of the nation of Israel - and the Gentile world - toward a righteousness so great that it can only be given as a gift from a perfectly righteous God. This is why Paul wrote earlier in the letter that the Jews had the advantage - if they had paid attention - and this is also why he wrote that they had no advantage - because they didn’t see the true purpose of the law. This is why Christ said, “unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Scribes and Pharisees you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”

The rest of the text is rather clear, that we can be justified (or made perfectly righteous) through God’s gift of faith. I think we should make some simple applications which I think are often missed. First, many evangelicals, protestants, whatever you want to call them, agree with the above point that salvation is by grace through faith. However, it has been my experience that though many say they believe this, they live like they don’t. For instance, when a believer is caught in sin or shows some other weakness, he or she is often treated like a leper. The truth of these verses applies to people who have faith, but these people who have faith are people who still sin - we are a work in progress, if you will. Why then do we treat fellow saints as anathema when they mess up? To do so is to disbelieve these verses, it is to act as if the transgressor’s actions determine his or her eternal destiny. Also, how do we think of ourselves? When we err, when we neglect to remember the glory that has been given us to temporarily delight in sin do we act as if we have negated God’s righteous work in us? Often it is so easy when we are mired in sin to think, “Ugh, I’ve really done it this time, I have messed everything up.” If we really believe the above verses, then nothing, not even our own sin should draw doubt or depression into our thinking. The moment we are tempted to despair over sin we are falling into yet another ploy of Satan which would only draw us into further sin. Rather than do that, we should remember the perfect righteousness of Christ that has been given to us. We should remember that nothing, not even our own failings, can touch this righteousness. I think this is why Paul includes it in the armor of God, “put on the breastplate of righteousness.” This should transform our lives. If we have repented and turned to Christ by faith, we are righteous, plain and simple. When we mess up, we are righteous. When we do well, we are righteous (this also humbles us, because we can never do something so good as to reach or surpass what Christ has already done in us). We just need to get it into our heads and apply it to all our relationships and actions that it is God who justifies us. It should not motivate lawlessness, rather it should motivate doing everything for Him because He has done everything for us. He is our manifestation of justification.