21 But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify.

22 This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

25 God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished

26 he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.

27 Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. Because of the law? The law that requires works? No, because of the law that requires faith.”

 

The Bible became the example and established principles for our nation to follow. True freedom from sin bondage is only possible through Jesus Christ. This is good news. How can a man be in the right before God? It seems impossible, but what is impossible with man is possible with God. The Bible makes it as clear as possible that it is not our work—our righteousness—that makes us right before God, but rather, it is the righteousness of God that makes us right before God. Justification is based not on who we are or what we have done that deserves judgment from a just God, but rather it is based on what He did.

 

My favorite passage that I like to use to help people understand that we are sinners is the 23rd verse. All have sinned, both Jews and Gentiles, religious and nonreligious. Everyone has sinned and we all fall short of the glory of God. We come short of the requirements for entering the presence of God. We are all guilty and condemned. The value of the law was to make us aware that we are law breakers and need to be saved outside of our works of righteousness. Praise God, He provides one way to do that. There is no other way. This is the only solution that solves the sin problem and the salvation opportunity.

           

There is a theological concept called propitiation. It means the wrath or anger of God against sin and evil is appeased. There was the sacrifice of animals in order for the priest to come before the arc of the covenant on which is a place called the Mercy-seat. The Arc of the Covenant was a box which contained the stone tablets on which the laws were written. It also contained some manna and Aaron’s budding staff. It was covered entirely by a lid and on each side are cherubim with wings almost touching looking down on the Mercy Seat. Some think this represents the angels of judgment looking back at the time of the Passover where the death angel went throughout the land and killed the first born son of every household unless blood of the lamb was taken and put on the door post of the house. If the angel saw the blood, it would pass over the house and the family was safe from judgment. Once a year the high priest would put the blood on the lid as a symbol of the death angel being appeased against the sin of God’s people by the means of the blood. It satisfied the wrath of the Holy God.

 

Jesus is the only one who was without sin. His bloody death was sufficient to meet the requirements for sin to be forgiven. We cannot suffer and die for our sins for we are sinful. Jesus could because He was able to take our place and our punishment as our perfect substitute just like the animals took the place of the people for their sin. Old Testament animals covered the sin, whereas Jesus’ bloody death cleanses us from sin, not just covers it. That is why we no longer need to offer sacrifices like in the Old Testament. By Christ’s blood God was completely satisfied. The price of all sin was paid for all who by faith accept, believe, confess, and devote themselves to Him. The Father has set the sinner free, but He has not done so by setting aside the rules. He has set the sinner free in Christ by satisfying the demands of His justice in Christ. 

 

The gift is for all who believe and put their trust in this work and act of Jesus by confessing our sin, repenting of sin, and calling upon God to save us. To trust and put one’s faith in the saving works of Jesus is also to commit yourself to Him. True faith results in the inner working of the Holy Spirit that not only makes us clean from all our sins, but puts that desires in our hearts to want to change to live in honor of Him. Romans 3: 28 affirms that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.

 

The conclusion is this - justification comes not because of who we are or what we have done, it is what He has done for us. He atoned for our sins by the sacrifice on the cross. Perhaps today it is time to take that step further and commit your life to Jesus.

 

Dale