Romans 3:21 (NIV)
21 But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has
been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify.
The 1st century Jews understood the righteousness of God as
being inherently tied to God’s faithfulness to His covenant people, the Jews.
The Jews thought that their righteousness was linked to the fact that they were
God’s covenant people. However, the law was only meant to be a tool that
pointed them to God. The Jewish people thought that their possession of the law
was enough to make them righteous, and yet Jesus told his disciples that their
righteousness must surpass the righteousness of the Pharisees in order to enter
the kingdom of God: For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses
that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter
the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:20) In essence, Jesus recognized the
Pharisees as those who were so caught up in the law and their own righteousness
that they missed seeing Him as the fulfillment of the law. Paul clarifies to
the Jews that now (note the word now) righteousness apart from law has been
made known, and this righteousness comes from faith in Jesus Christ. (v.21)
Even today it is easy for us to think that we must earn our
way into a right relationship with God. We learn this at an early age when we
receive credit for the good things we do. But there is nothing we can do to earn
salvation other than believe in the One who can save.
Thought for today:
Do I acknowledge grace in my life?
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