THE GIFT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS REVEALED

ROMANS 1:11–17

For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith”

(Romans 1:17).

As we move into the text of Romans, we immediately encounter that verse which is almost universally regarded by New Testament scholars as the thematic verse of the entire epistle—Romans 1:17. In this verse Paul quotes from the Old Testament prophecy of Habakkuk: “See, he is puffed up; his desires are not upright—but the righteous will live by his faith” (Habakkuk 2:4).

The righteousness of God

Here we find the theme that absorbs the apostle’s mind throughout his entire letter, for here Paul sets forth the concept of justification by faith.

It was Martin Luther, we remember, whose life was turned upside down by preparing lectures on the book of Romans. And Luther tells us that when he prepared this particular text, a gripping new insight broke through to his consciousness, and his life was changed.

Luther’s struggle

Luther had read this passage innumerable times previously, but every time he read the words “the righteousness of God,” he assumed that Paul was speaking of that righteousness by which God Himself is righteous—the righteousness that belongs to the character of God.

However, as he read the statement on this particular occasion, it suddenly dawned on him that the righteousness of God spoken of here by the apostle Paul is not that righteousness by which God himself is righteous, but is a revelation of the righteousness that God is making available to us. It is a righteousness granted to us not according to our obedience or our merit, but a righteousness that is given to us as a gift that we receive by faith. And Luther says that when he understood this, “The doors of paradise swung open and I walked through.” He knew, as we can know, that God alone gives us the righteousness that enables us to withstand His judgment. He alone provides the righteousness that makes it possible for us to come into His presence.

CORAM DEO

How can we dare come before God in prayer? Never in our own righteousness to be sure! As you pray today consciously praise God for the righteousness He has so freely given—a gift so great that it enables us to draw near and say “Our Father.”

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