No book of the Bible has had a greater impact on the Christian church than the book of Romans. It was my study of this book that opened the doors wide so that the grace of God could shine through. Leon Morris, renowned New Testament scholar and author of over 50 books, said Romans 3:21-26: “…is possibly the most important single paragraph ever written” [anywhere, anytime].1 Here is this section from the New American Standard Bible.
But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed; for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
It only takes about 37 seconds to read these six verses, but when we are through do we really understand what we have read? These verses carry a train load of truth which have changed the history of Christianity, sparked revivals of faith, and have been instrumental in the salvation of thousands, if not millions of people. Let’s unpack their meaning.
Three metaphors are used here. But they are more than just metaphors; they expand our understanding of the gospel. Justification derives from the legal court system. Redemption comes from the world of slavery, and propitiation originates from the practice of sacrifice. They are the what, how, and why of the gospel. Together they are the fire radiating like a rainbow from the many faceted diamond of the gospel. Redemption and propitiation will be the subject of future chapters.
The first point we need to remember comesfrom the first two words “But now”. These two words are used by New Testament writers to announce that a radical change has taken place with profound implications.2 But Now gets our attention; it tells us that the new covenant changes everything-radically.
What are the profound, radical truths to which Paul refers here in our text? They come in quick succession like cars racing bumper to bumper in the Daytona 500.
But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets (Rom. 3:21).
The Jews believed there was a coming day of judgment when God would condemn and punish all who had broken His laws. That day would terminate the present world and usher in the wonderful age to come for all those whom God judged to be worthy. They held that the way to gain righteousness with God was to give alms, fast, pray, and strictly keep the law.3 They saw God as a just God who would justify the righteous and condemn the wicked. To get the verdict of righteousness, they had to be righteous. They had to have many righteous deeds to tip the balance in their favor in the judgment. Jewish life was centered on the law. As we read through the Gospels and Epistles this fact pops up time and time again. The Jews were zealous law keepers.
Paul, however, makes it clear that this radical “righteousness of God” is revealed apart from the law. The Greek has no definite article, so we should read “apart from law” , all law, any law. This righteousness has nothing to do with law keeping. In fact, these three words, “Apart from law” exclude all human activity.4
This created a major problem for the Jews of Paul’s day. They were so married to the law that to conceive the righteousness of the gospel was apart from law remained a stumbling block. The early Hebrew Christians fought the simple gospel as proclaimed by Paul.5 And sad to say, there are some, perhaps many, church leaders who are still tied to law-righteousness in some form or another.
The first five words of Romans 3:21 compared with Romans 10:4 carry profound truth for those of us who grew up on law.
But now apart from law the righteousness of God is revealed…”
For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes (Rom. 10:4).
Commenting on this text, Leon Morris states,
Romans 10:4, makes it clear that there can be no way of law for the believer. For Paul it was absolutely basic that no righteousness of human origin could avail in the sight of God.6
So the second section of our text is clear: God’s righteousness is revealed apart from law. Romans 3:20 makes it clear.
Because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin.
But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets (Rom. 3:21).
Verse 21 when rightly interpreted deals with the manifestation or the disclosure of God’s Righteousness.
Verse 22 deals with the method of receiving God’s righteousness and the range of its effectiveness.
…even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction (Rom 3:22).
God’s righteousness is available to all who exercise their faith and no one is excluded. The gospel is available to whomever trusts Christ—His life, death, and resurrection.
It is important that we understand the difference between “the righteousness of God” and “the righteousness of the law.” Especially for those who come from a law-focused religion. Probably the best reference to show this is Paul’s statement in Philippians 3:8, 9.
As to the righteousness which is in the Law, found blameless. But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith.
Without question this verse shows that these two types of “righteousness” can never be equated. New covenant righteousness is above the righteousness of the law. It is the very righteousness of God.7
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Rom. 3:23).
“Have sinned” is in the aorist tense, a sin of finality. There is no changing the fact that we are sinners through and through. “Fall short” is in the present tense indicating durative, continuing action. We all continue to fall short of God’s glory. I think what Paul means here by “glory” is similar to his use of this word in 2 Corinthians 3:18.
But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.
Here “glory” seems to be the perfection of God. If this is Paul’s meaning, then Romans 3:23 could read like this: “For all have sinned and we continue to fall short of God’s perfection or ideal.” And this harmonizes with other Scriptures.
If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us (1 Jn. 1:8).
…being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus (Rom.3:24).
What does justification mean? It is a legal word used in court proceedings. It is the very foundation of the gospel and warrants our careful study. Justification carries two meanings: (1) declared not guilty or acquitted of all the charges (sin); and (2) declared or pronounced righteous with the very righteousness of God.
Justification does not mean to make righteous. It is necessary to be able to prove this from Scripture. Catholic theology holds that justification is God placing His righteousness into us and the method for doing this is through sacraments, such as participation in the Mass. Some, not all, leaders in the Seventh-day Adventist church hold a similar understanding of justification. However, for them the imparted righteousness is not achieved through involvement with the sacraments; rather it is a mixture of the work of the Holy Spirit in the believer and carefully obeying the Ten Commandments. Below are two references. One from the New American Standard Bible and one from Adventist’s The Clear Word.8
He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (2 Cor. 5:21 NASB).
For God made Christ to be sin for us, who knew no sin, so that He might pour Christ’s righteousness into us so we could become more like God (2 Cor. 5:21 TCW).
Paul makes it very clear that the righteousness of justification is an external righteousness “in Christ”, a phrase he uses about 85 times in his epistles. For example, in Romans 4:2-5 Paul is very clear.
For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? “ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS.” Now to the one who works, his wage is not credited as a favor, but as what is due. But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness (Rom. 4:2-5).
In the next few verses Paul shows the second meaning of justification.
Just as David also speaks of the blessing on the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works: “BLESSED ARE THOSE WHOSE LAWLESS DEEDS HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN, AND WHOSE SINS HAVE BEEN COVERED” (Rom. 4:6-7).
Lest there be any misunderstanding, Paul expands the scope of those who qualify for justification to include people who are helpless, ungodly, and sinners who are enemies of God when they place their faith in Christ.9 I remember when the force of these verses hit home to me. I said, “I can qualify! I am a helpless, ungodly sinner.”
I happened to be watching TV when the verdict of the court was read to Casey Anthony. Tears came to my eyes when I realized the parallel of that verdict to the declaration of justification. Most of us believed Casey had killed her daughter, little Caylee. But when the judge said, “The court finds you not guilty.” It did not matter whether or not she had done that terrible thing. The declaration of the court stands!
The good news of the new covenant gospel is that if we have placed our faith in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ we are acquitted of all sin—our personal sin and the sin we inherited from Adam. The Supreme Court of the universe has acquitted us of all sin and has declared that we are righteous with the very righteousness of God. Don’t let anyone try to take that verdict away from you! Later in Romans 8 Paul will write,
Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies (Rom. 8:33).
Justification by faith is the centerpiece of the gospel. In human terms, being justified before God is like winning the spiritual lottery. Things which we have always wanted, strived for, prayed for, and wished for, but could not achieve, are now ours for the taking. These will be referenced in following chapters. The truth will make you free. Yes, you will be free indeed!
Endnotes
- Morris, The Epistle to the Romans, p. 173.
- See Jn.15:22; Rom. 6:21–23; Rom. 11:30; 1 Cor 15:19,20; Gal. 3:24, 25; Eph. 5:8.
- Lk. 18:12; Mt. 23:23.
- Morris, The Epistle to the Romans, p. 171.
- This is demonstrated throughout the book of Acts and it is the issue in the book of Galatians.
- Morris, The Apostolic Preaching of the Cross, p. 276.
- For more in-depth understanding of this point, see Ratzlaff, Sabbath in Christ, LAM Publications, LLC, Camp Verde, AZ, Chapter “A Better Law”.
- Jack J. Blanco, The Clear Word, An Expanded Paraphrase of the Bible to Nurture Faith and Growth, Review and Herald Publishing Association, Hagerstown, MD, 1994.
- Rom. 5:6, 8, 10.
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- 2. Placed Into Christ - March 26, 2026
- 1. Starting Point - March 19, 2026