Romans 1:17: For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.”
Paul is talking about the imputed righteousness of Christ. God places a lost sinner in Christ, and He sees him in Christ. The believer is absolutely accepted because of what Christ has done for him. The only method of procuring this righteousness is by faith. It is a by–faith righteousness. You can’t work for it; you can’t make a deposit on it; you can’t buy it. You can do nothing but accept it by faith. 1
When Martin Luther was searching for God, for a long time he thought that “the righteousness of God” was a condemning righteousness. And seeing the righteousness of God as God’s standard of judgment sometimes drove him to despair. However, little by little he began to understand, and finally the day came when he saw that God gives his own righteousness to make man righteous through faith— “This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe” (3:22)—and Luther’s life was turned upside down. 2
Application
- Have you realized that good works can never make you righteous before God?
- Do you live a life of faith or a life of fear? What did it take for God to declare you righteous for all eternity? Will He ever revoke that declaration?
Prayer
Lord, thank you for dying in my place and imputing Your righteousness to me, forever.
1. McGee, J. V. (1991). Thru the Bible commentary: The Epistles (Romans 1-8) (electronic ed., Vol. 42). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
2. Hughes, R. K. (1991). Romans: righteousness from heaven. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books.
