The Righteousness of God Revealed
Romans 1:16-17; 3:21-26
August 29, 2021
Peter Yoo
Sermon Script
Introductory Question
If I asked you the question, “What does God’s righteousness look like?” what would you point to? This question is, in many ways, what our passage this morning is about. In fact, this question is, in many ways, what the first 3 chapters in Romans is all about. Where do we see God’s righteousness demonstrated in the world? What does God’s righteousness look like in this world?
Review Romans 1
And if you remember from Romans 1:18-32, Paul first describes the revelation of something else. Not specifically God’s righteousness, as our passage focuses on, but firstly on God’s wrath. More specifically, a visible expression of God’s wrath in some people’s lives, even now. Paul describes a mass of humanity who know God through what God has revealed of himself in creation. But they rejected God, and Romans 1:23 tells us that they exchanged the glory of the immortal God for idols. And so, God in his wrath gave them up to the many consequences of their rebellion, which can be visibly witnessed, even now. And so, things progressively get worse. Their sin gets worse and worse and worse, in both quality and quantity, both inwardly and outwardly. And they have been so given up to unrighteousness that they’ve come to a point where they not only do worse sins, but they also give praise and approval to those who practice them as well.
So here, in Romans 1, the situation is quite clear. The situation in Romans 1 is clearly the opposite of God’s righteousness, isn’t it? In other words, if I asked the question, “What does God’s righteousness look like in this world?” you would likely not point to those in Romans 1. We might even say of those in Romans 1, “Okay, that’s what God’s wrath looks like revealed even now, not his righteousness.” So then the question remains: if that’s what God’s partial wrath looks like now, then what does God’s righteousness look like? Where do we find a clear contrast to those in Romans 1? Well, 1 answer that someone might give is that the opposite of God’s wrath now is not God’s wrath now, right? Not exactly.
Review Romans 2: The Judge
And this is what Paul says in the beginning of Romans 2, doesn’t he? In the first half of Romans 2, Paul talks to someone who experiences not God’s wrath now, but God’s kindness and patience and forbearance now. And because God has been kind and patient and forbearing with this person, he lives a life that’s generally better than those in Romans 1. This person experiences, by degree at least, more blessing at the present time, not more wrath. And more than this, this person even judges and disagrees with those in Romans 1. He lives a more restrained life instead of pursuing a life of full rebellion like those in Romans 1. The situation is, relatively-speaking, better for him.
But of course, when you look more closely at his situation, the situation isn’t really all that pure, is it? He might commit less sins and maybe he doesn’t flaunt his sin, but his situation is still very sinful. As Romans 2:1 tells us, he judges those in Romans 1, but he practice[s] the very same things. He might be better at masking his sin, or he might think that he’s comparatively better than those in Romans 1. But again, he practices the very same things as those in Romans 1. Perhaps to a different degree, but in terms of kind, they are the same exact sins. And Romans 2:5 tells us that he’s only storing up wrath for [himself] on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed. In other words, he might be doing relatively better now, but he shares the same fate as those in Romans 1. So again, if I asked the question, “What does God’s righteousness look like in this world?” I wouldn’t want to point to someone who might be doing relatively better, but is still subject to the wrath of God that is to come. So, if this person who judges is relatively better than those in Romans 1 but he still isn’t what God’s righteousness looks like in this world, then what does it look like? If he doesn’t show God’s righteousness in this world, then what does?
Review Romans 2: The Jewish Teacher
How about the more educated? How about the more articulate moral reformers of our society? This is who Paul turns to in the second half of Romans 2. Paul talks directly to a Jewish teacher, who is a moral reformer for his society. He had means for personal and societal improvement. And so we might think, “Okay, here’s a clear contrast to those in Romans 1, right? Surely he must stand out from all the others. Partly because of how strongly he advocates for a higher standard. He’s been taught at length from God’s law. He promotes a better way.” Romans 2:18-19 tell us that he views himself as an enlightened guide to the blind, a light to those in the darkness, etc. And in today’s world, we have no shortage of moral reformers. Countless examples of moral crusaders who champion a clear standard of right and wrong, maybe even a higher standard of right and wrong. So here we see God’s righteousness revealed, right? In these moral reformers of our society?
Again, Paul’s response to this Jewish teacher is pretty similar to the moral reformers of our day. This teacher views himself as an enlightened guide to the blind, a light to those in the darkness, “look to me!” This teacher trumpets his superiority over the masses, but he still proves to be a disappointment. Romans 2:21 and following tells us that this teacher doesn’t even teach himself. He preaches against stealing, yet he himself steals. He tells others not to commit adultery, yet he himself commits adultery. He claims to hate idols, yet he himself is an idolater. Haven’t we heard of this story before? A teacher who doesn’t listen to his own teaching? A teacher who doesn’t live by his own instruction? All of his teaching still can’t change the human condition. He is a hypocritical teacher, teaching to do as he says, not as he does. Again, if I were to ask, “What does God’s righteousness look like in the world?” I would be hesitant to point to this Jewish teacher, this moral reformer of society. And so, not even in the moral reformers of society do we see the God’s righteousness in this world.
Review Romans 3: The People of God
Okay then, if God’s righteousness isn’t found in those who experience God’s wrath now, if it’s not found in those who experience God’s kindness now, if it’s not found in the moral reformers of society, then what about the people of God? It makes sense, doesn’t it? God’s people should reflect God’s righteousness. God’s people should reflect God’s righteousness in this world, right?
The historic, covenant community of God in the Old Testament have been given a distinct and special calling. They were separated out from the mass of human society for centuries. They were given God’s written Word, they were given God’s law, being given things like circumcision, being given many special dietary rules and practices, and so many other things that would distinguish them from the rest of the world. They would be trained, disciplined, separate from the world. Surely, here we would expect to see a clear contrast to those in Romans 1. Here we would expect to God’s righteousness revealed, right?
Paul’s answer is no. God’s people did have a great advantage by having God’s law, by having the oracles of God that taught them many things like repentance. So they had a great advantage. But even in the separate, covenant community of God, Paul finds nothing but corruption of sin. Romans 3:10-12, None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one. We know that for those in Romans 1, their sin gets worse and worse and worse, in both quality and quantity, both inwardly and outwardly. But even in the separated, covenant community of God, we find that they too, both inwardly and outwardly, are corrupt. They don’t seek God the way that they ought to. There’s not one, single righteous person in the whole covenant community of God. So, if God’s righteousness isn’t found in those who experience God’s wrath now, or those who experience God’s kindness now, or the moral reformers of society, or even in the very people of God themselves, then where can we see God’s righteousness demonstrated?
The Problem
Well, there’s a pretty significant problem with our overall approach to answer our question. And here’s the problem: all of these prior answers are trying to find a positive expression of God’s righteousness in man. Trying to find a positive expression of God’s righteousness in the world. Trying to point to humans, who we are, what we do, what we have. We try and find God’s righteousness positively expressed, positively embodied and lived-out in man. But what Paul finds instead is just greater and lesser degrees of sinfulness. Yes, some are more restrained than others. Yes, some of them have experienced more blessing than others, relatively-speaking. But they all fail to show God’s righteousness in any full or consistent way, certainly not in a perfect way.
Paul’s Answer
So then, what’s the answer? What’s the answer to the question? What do we point to and say, “This is God’s righteousness displayed.” “Here’s a picture and demonstration of God’s righteousness.” What can we point to? Paul points us to something entirely different. Paul points us to the bloody death of Jesus. You want to see a demonstration of God’s righteousness? You need to look no further that the blood-stained cross of Jesus, a man hanging lifeless on a bloody cross. What a remarkable answer! Not great teachers, not moral reformers, not the mass of those who claim a higher ideal, not even the worship or the service of the covenant community itself. As good as that is, it still exists in the midst of our inconsistency and our sin. We can’t point to our worship and service and say, “This is the fullest expression of God’s righteousness.” In fact, this is at times a big scandal for many people, isn’t it? “Look at the church! Look at her! Look at what all those Christians are doing! They think they’re so righteous, who do they think they are?” And all we can say is, “I know. That’s why we all need Jesus.”
The Righteousness of God Revealed
So, the righteousness of God in its fullness isn’t revealed in those who experience God’s wrath now, nor is it revealed in those who experience God’s kindness now, or those who claim a higher ideal, and not even in the very people of God. Paul says that the righteousness of God in its fullness is revealed in the bloody cross of Christ. And I’ll point out 5 important things regarding the righteousness of God found in our passage this morning.
The Righteousness of God Revealed: God
First, the demonstration of God’s righteousness is brought about by God’s own doing. God revealed his righteousness through the cross of Christ. We see this in Romans 1:17, that God’s righteousness is revealed from his own faithfulness to our faith. And we see this Romans 3:25. God has faithfully put forward Christ Jesus as a propitiation in his blood as a demonstration of his righteousness.
And it’s pretty impressive that Paul doesn’t say that the Jewish leaders or the Roman soldiers brought Christ to the cross. Instead, he says that God himself put forward Christ as a propitiation in his blood. Meaning, that God himself provided the solution to his own wrath. God was and is rightly wrathful against all sin and against all unbelievers. But the solution is not to be found in this world. The solution is God’s own faithfulness, a faithfulness that comes from above. God put forward his own Son to appease his own wrath. God has extinguished his wrath for us by pouring forth his wrath on his only Son. And when Christ died in our place, this shows just how perfect God’s righteousness is. That there’s truly nothing in all of this world that can make you right with God except Jesus Christ. And God in his faithfulness put forward his own perfect Son to extinguish his own wrath towards us.
The Righteousness of God Revealed: Christ
Second, the demonstration of God’s righteousness is also brought about by Christ’s faithfulness. It’s brought about by God’s own doing and it’s brought about by Christ’s faithfulness. And we can see this in Romans 3:22. And this might be difficult to see in the English translation, but it may be better translated as “the righteousness of God is revealed through the faithfulness of Jesus Christ unto all who believe.” In previous weeks, in Romans 3:2-5 we saw that God’s faithfulness to his people in the Old Testament was constantly met with human unfaithfulness. God’s righteousness met with human unrighteousness, even in King David. But here, finally, we see the antidote. God’s faithfulness meets with the true and perfect faithfulness on the human side, the faithfulness of Jesus Christ.
Christ was faithful to come to earth in obedience to the Father and he faithfully did all that the Father had given him to do, even in going to the cross. Christ was perfect both inwardly and outwardly. In all his thoughts, in all his feelings, in all his loyalty to the Father, in all his outward actions, Christ was faithful. Especially in the outward action of hanging on a cross. Christ was willing to go to the cross. In fact, Hebrews 12:2 tells us that Jesus Christ endured the cross for the joy that was set before him. Christ doesn’t take joy in suffering, but he endured suffering for the joy that was set before him. Cheerful obedience is pretty difficult for us, isn’t it? We’re not the most cheerfully obedient to our Lord, are we? It’s hard enough to have our children be obedient at times, but for them to be cheerfully obedient is much harder. But the Son of God cheerfully obeyed all that the Father had commanded him to do, so that his perfect record might be in our account. Thanks be to our God.
The Righteousness of God Revealed: Law
Third, the demonstration of God’s righteousness was promised in the law, but goes further than what the law itself can do. This is especially clear in Romans 3:21, where Paul says that both the revelation of God’s righteousness came without the law and that this revelation was also testified to by the Law and the Prophets, which is another way of saying the Old Testament. What this verse means is that every page of the entire Old Testament ultimately points to Jesus. And that this salvation is something that the law doesn’t say to do. Here’s what I mean. The law doesn’t say that if someone else sins that you should step in their place and be punished for them. The law doesn’t require that. Because that doesn’t comes from the law, that comes from mercy. The law, in its barest form, has no mercy in it. It’s basically, do this and you’ll live, do that and you’ll die. The law can reward obedience or curse disobedience, but that’s it. So in the law, God’s not obligated to save you when you sin, is he? Christ isn’t obligated by the law to save you, is he? But our salvation isn’t based on the law, it’s based on grace. And that’s what it means that God’s righteousness is revealed without the law.
The Righteousness of God Revealed: Sin and Salvation
So far, we’ve seen that this demonstration of God’s righteousness is God’s own doing, that it’s through Christ’s faithfulness, and that it’s not through the law, and fourth, that this demonstration of God’s righteousness reveals our sin and how we can be saved. We see this in Romans 3:23-24. All have sinned and are lacking the glory of God. I’m not sure why any of you would ask for this, but if you wanted proof in the world that all have sinned, you need only to look at the bloody cross of Christ. Because a person doesn’t send their son and put him forward as a propitiation if there was another way. If there was another way for God to remove his wrath towards us, and yet he still puts Christ forward as a sacrifice, then that would be foolish! That’s why Paul says in Galatians 2 that if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose. Christ died in vain. But God put forward Christ as a propitiation, and this so clearly shows us that we all have sinned and lack the glory of God. In this way, we’re similar to those in Romans 1, aren’t we? They exchanged the glory of Creator for the creature, but we are people of like-passions and we too lack the glory of God. And so, the only way to be in right standing before God is by a gift, is by his grace. A gift that we don’t deserve. Romans 3:24, being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.
The Righteousness of God Revealed: Fairness
Fifth, and lastly, the demonstration of God’s righteousness also shows God’s fairness, God’s impartiality. We see this in Romans 3:22, 25-26. For many centuries in the Old Testament, God has favored one people group, essentially having an exclusive relationship with the Jewish people. And he showed them patience and he showed them favor. He bore with their sins patiently. He didn’t hand them over to his wrath for centuries and centuries. Sin after sin, failure after failure, God continued to be their God. And so, it might seem to some that God shows favoritism. In fact, it seemed to many in Paul’s day that God showed partiality and favoritism towards the Jewish people, and that God had a double standard.
But Paul tells very clearly in Romans 3:22 that in fact, there is no distinction. There is no preferential treatment or favoritism. Yes, throughout history God has passed over the sins of some people temporarily, as Romans 3:25-26 describe. But God in his sovereignty has chosen to show mercy for a time, delaying his wrath against their sin until Christ would come, and it would be laid upon him. And Christ would not only die for the sins of Jews, but also for the sins of Greeks, as Romans 1:16 tells us. Revealing to us that the gospel is for all people without distinction. All who look to Christ. Jewish believers, Greek believers, American believers, Chinese believers, Korean believers, Russian believers, Indian believers, whatever you might want to say, there is no distinction. Rich, poor, slave, free, male, female, any way you cut it, if you look to Christ alone for salvation, you will be saved! God doesn’t play favorites, and neither should we.
So, in summary, the cross of Christ shows us many things. Many things about God, many things about Christ, and many things about ourselves. It shows us God’s just judgment, his righteous standard against sin, but it also shows us his love. The cross of Christ shows his faithfulness to go to the cross on our behalf, and it shows that salvation isn’t through the law, nor can it be. That all have sinned, and that all people without distinction can be justified only through an undeserved gift. This is our right standing with God: it’s Christ. The only place we see God’s righteousness in this world isn’t in man or his achievements, but in the bloody cross of Jesus. Praise be to our God.
Soli Deo Gloria