Apart from the Law

Sometimes when you're reading the Bible, an old truth, a known truth, will jump up from the page and hit you in the eye. I guess it's another reason why we need to read every morning. Today just that happened, Romans 3:21 was a bolt of lightening.

but now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the law and the prophets bear witness to it.

So much gold here, but a few things stood out. Paul has been painting the human condition in dark terms. Sinful, lawbreakers, approvers of sin, guilty and without excuse. Just one verse earlier Paul tells us that knowing the law will save no one, since through the law comes knowledge of sin. Romans 3:21 finds us in dire straights. Proverbs 25:25 tells us like cold water to a thirsty soul is good news from a far country. And this is the best of news, from the furthest of countries, the Gospel is the most refreshing if waters to our sin parched souls. 

Why is it such good news that the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law? What sort of manifestation was the law? Ultimately Paul argues, a condemning one. Not because of any fault of the law. The law, like it's Giver is good and right and true and holy. But the law stands against us. We can not keep the law. We break it from the moment we're born to the moment we die. The law creates a chasm between us and God. God has graciously revealed Himself to us, but in a way that provokes sin within us. 

Which is why Paul starts with 'but now,' but now there is a manifestation of God's righteousness apart from the law. A manifestation that saves rather than condemns. What is this manifestation? How is this righteousness counted to us? Faith in Christ. Christ keeps the law, 'earns' it's righteousness and then gives it to us. The righteousness of God was manifested fully on the cross, as the wrath of the Father crushed the Son, the only Israelite upon whose heart the law had truly been written. Now, by faith, we are connected to Christ and the righteousness of God is ours.

This is not a new thing, Paul assures the Romans Jews, you can read about it in Moses, but it is a uniting thing. The righteousness of God humbles us, kills our pride, and unites us as a church. 

Good news from a far country on a Thursday morning. The righteousness of God through faith in Christ for all who believes. Let this Gospel water flood the plains burnt by sin, and bring you to Jesus!