EPISTLE: Romans 3:19-31

Reading: 

Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also: Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith. Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.

Commentary: 

 While the law of God reveals righteousness, namely all that is good and holy, the law never makes us righteous or holy, rather just the opposite….it reveals our unholiness. When our conscience is thus smitten by the law, so the guilt of all our sins weigh upon us, we must turn our thoughts to the "righteousness of God without the law" namely our righteousness in Christ by faith. Faith itself does not make us righteous, but faith sees and understands Christ was righteous for our sake. Christ fulfilled all the righteousness the law demands. "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus." This righteousness which you, the guilty sinner desires, is the very righteousness Jesus is happy to give you. What you want to be is what He has been for your sake, and His righteousness is His free gift to you. Knowing Christ believers can speak this way, "Though I am unrighteousness and sin, Christ is my righteousness and life. For His sake, God will not condemn me for my unrighteousness, but He will count me as righteous for Christ's sake and take me to heaven when I die." Faith then finds no reason to boast or brag about the law and good works, rather faith can only boast of Christ saying, "Here is my righteousness and I am righteous through Him who loved me and gave Himself for me, that I may be His own."