The Righteousness of God without the Law is Manifested
But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;” (Romans 3:21 KJV)
In Romans 3, Paul presents a transformative truth about righteousness. He reveals the righteousness of God apart from the law—a gift, not an achievement. This revelation is both liberating and radical.
To fully grasp the righteousness of God, we must first understand the other type of righteousness described in Scripture.
Righteousness, at its core, is “right being and right living” according to God’s perfect standards. Under the Old Testament framework, righteousness was achieved by obeying God’s laws and living according to His standards. This righteousness involved two key aspects:
- It was earned—a person’s actions determined their standing before God. This is why it was referred to as “their own righteousness.” While not inherently evil, it was something people achieved through effort.
- It was law-based—the law served as the standard by which a person’s righteousness was measured.
With this foundation in place, we can now contrast Old Testament righteousness with the new type of righteousness revealed in the New Testament. God calls this “my righteousness” or “the righteousness of God.” Like the Old Testament righteousness, it also has two defining aspects:
- It is God’s righteousness—not something earned by human effort, but a gift from God Himself. Even more astonishing, it is the very righteousness of God.
- It is apart from the law—people are not made right with God by keeping His laws. This truth was deeply unsettling for the Israelites, who had always measured their lives by obedience to the law. They struggled to comprehend a righteousness that came without law-keeping. This new righteousness is received by believing in what Jesus has done. It is righteousness through faith in Christ—righteousness without the law.
I can think of no other truth that so powerfully frees us from the struggles of religion, guilt, and shame. This is the foundation of grace. Yet, it is both perplexing and challenging to believe. Human nature inclines us to earn our standing through rules and performance. To simply believe in the work of the cross and receive righteousness feels counterintuitive. That is why we must renew our minds and align our thinking with God’s.
Of course, some may ask whether this means our behavior doesn’t matter. Without delving deeply into this, Scripture makes it clear—our actions do matter to God. This truth is not about dismissing the importance of obedience but about understanding the righteousness of God. As Christians, we are called to rightly divide the Word of God, distinguishing what belongs where.
Here is the good news: God’s righteousness is available now. You received this righteousness at salvation by believing in Jesus—not by obeying God’s laws.
Meditate
Reflect on the contrast between self-righteousness and God’s righteousness. How does faith in Christ transform your understanding of standing before God?
Act on the Word
Thank God for the gift of His righteousness through Christ. Rest in this truth today, and let it inspire confidence and joy in your walk with Him.
Pray
Ask the Holy Spirit to deepen your trust in God’s righteousness and to live fully in the grace He provides.
Recommended Read
- What is Justification?
- Justification By Grace
- Christ Our Righteousness
- What is the Gift of Righteousness?
- Christianity and Christianism: A Sober Warning from Judaism
- View all Deshen Daily Devotionals
Free Mini E-book: From Spiritual Dryness to Flourishing
