By Henry Lepke
INTRODUCTION The theme of God’s righteousness has a significant place in Paul’s letter to the Romans. Written in a historical context and not originally intended as a theological treatise, it nonetheless forms a theological framework for the righteousness of God. Paul clearly shows that no human being can be righteous in and of themselves, and that God did in Christ what man is was not able to do by himself. Jesus alone fulfilled the righteous requirements of the law and became the representative of all those who trust in Him. And for this reason God is righteous when he justifies those who come to Him through faith in His Son. He can give them life while those outside of Christ remain condemned. And because God is righteous, He desires to transform the lives of all believers into the image of His Son, whose kingdom is the very expression of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit (Rom. 14:17).
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A SHORT STUDY Let’s start at the beginning. According to Strong’s Concordance, the word ‘righteousness’ appears 37 times in the first ten chapters of Paul’s letter to the Romans, and almost one third of these references relate to the righteousness of God! That is amazing. Paul says that this righteousness of God is revealed in the gospel (Rom.1:16,17). The original Greek rendering here may be translated as ‘righteousness’ or ‘justice,’ and a literal translation could be both ‘righteousness/justice of God’ or ‘righteousness/justice from God.’ The latter would convey a sense of how God can save sinful people without impeaching his righteousness and impartial justice, whereas the former would relate to a quality of God himself. Since Paul places the gospel in the context of the Old Testament (Rom.1:2-3), saying that the good news was foretold by the prophets and is now fulfilled in Jesus Christ, I would favour the translation ‘righteousness of God.’ It displays God’s impartial covenant faithfulness. And thus, God has revealed the impartial fulfilment of His promises in the gospel. He has revealed Himself as steadfast, faithful and true to his announced intentions – despite the fact that every human being is proven to be sinful (chapters 1-3). The following presents God’s righteousness as it relates to three major issues: (1) justification by faith, (2) the giving of life based on this faith, and (3) the outworking of God’s righteousness in the lives of His people. The first two matters are covered in chapters 1 – 11, followed by the practical application of theological truth in chapters 12 – 16. (1) God is righteous when He declares sinners justified through faith in Christ. Redemption is in Christ Jesus alone because sin must be judged and God is impartial. Paul’s conclusion is that no man can perfectly keep the law, and that therefore no one can be declared righteous by doing its works (chapter 3). Yet God offers the gift of His righteousness to everyone who comes to Christ by faith. Why can He do this? Because of the work God wrought in His Son. Redemption is found only in Jesus (Rom.3:24). He has become the mercy seat (propitiation) by shedding His blood, the innocent taking the place of the guilty. And for this reason God is righteous when he justifies (pronounces ‘not guilty’) all those who have faith in His Son. And so in Christ God is both Judge and Saviour, and the justification of men has a three-fold application: justification is by grace as the source of salvation (Rom.3:21-24), by Christ’s blood as the foundation of salvation (Rom.3:25,26), and by faith as the condition of salvation (Rom.3:27-31).
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In chapter 4, Paul then uses the example of Abraham to illustrate the principle of justification by faith apart from works. Why would Paul go to the Old Testament for this illustration? Because reconciliation between God and man has always required faith. God has provided the necessary justification in Christ because of man’s helplessness (Rom.5:6), and because of His love for him (Rom.5:8). The efficacy of this justification is available to all people of all ages through faith, and Paul explains how this is possible. The key here is the principle of representation. Through one man (Adam) sin and death entered the world and spread to all of his progeny. Through Adam’s disobedience those identified with him became sinners, and judgement came to them all because they all sinned. Likewise, the obedience of one man (Christ, the second Adam) resulted in the justification of all those who are identified with Him through faith. (2) God is righteous when He gives life based on faith Paul shows God to be righteous when He gives life to those who are justified by faith, which is an act resulting in reconciliation with God and salvation from His wrath (Rom.5:1-11). Through baptism the believer is united with Christ in the likeness of His death, and his old self is considered to be crucified with Christ. Having thus died, the believer is now free from the penalty of sin (Rom.6:1-7) and ready to serve God in the Spirit. (3) God’s righteousness has implications for Christian living Paul deals with the application of God’s righteousness in chapters 12 – 16. The actual term ‘righteousness of God’ is not mentioned past chapter 10, but Pauls commendations are based on this truth as they relate to the outworking of it in the believer’s life. Paul realises that behaviour is always based on belief. Therefore he reserves his practical exhortations until he has laid the theological groundwork. In this instance, he has firmly established his readers in their spiritual position in Christ. And so, finally, Paul points out that God’s righteousness as demonstrated in the preceding 11 chapters should transform a Christian’s life in all directions: in relation to God, and in relation to society, government and neighbours. Paul makes it clear that this changed life is not a condition for salvation, but that it is the natural outcome of the believer’s position in Christ as a consequence of his salvation. Saving faith expresses itself in obedience and gratitude.
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Strong’s Concordance (Abingdon Press; Nashville, 1986) The Open Bible, NKJV (Thomas Nelson; New York, 1983) 3