The Righteousness of God in Romans — Justified by Faith, Not by the Law
Romans: The Gospel by the Righteousness of God (Preface Study)
What the righteousness of God is, how it was accomplished, and how to be justified by faith
Today’s post is about the 74th volume among the Bible-study books authored by Pastor Paul C. Jong — Romans Seen from the Perspective of the Gospel of the Water and the Spirit (I).
Through Romans, Pastor Paul C. Jong clearly reveals — from the perspective of the gospel of the water and the Spirit — who the Apostle Paul was, why Jesus called him as the apostle to the Gentiles, and what the gospel of truth is that the Apostle Paul sought to convey plainly through Romans.
He also shows accurately, through the Word, what the gospel by the righteousness of God is — the core theme that the Apostle Paul proclaimed.
The Apostle Paul proclaimed one gospel — the righteousness of God, fulfilled through Jesus’ baptism, the Cross, and His resurrection.
The following is the content recorded in the preface of the Bible-study book Romans Seen from the Perspective of the Gospel of the Water and the Spirit (I).
Central Theme — The Gospel by the Righteousness of God
The central theme of Romans, spoken in a word, is “the gospel by the righteousness of God,” that is, the truth that a person does not become righteous by their own deeds, but receives justification by believing in that righteousness accomplished only by Jesus Christ.
Paul declares the theme of this letter in Romans 1:16-17 like this:
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, ‘The just shall live by faith.’”
1) What is the righteousness of God?
The most core expression here is “the righteousness of God.” The righteousness of God that Paul speaks of does not refer to the righteousness that we humans create ourselves by keeping the law, but that righteousness which God Himself prepares, Himself accomplishes, and freely gives to us. Paul clearly nails down this fact in Romans 3:20, saying, “Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin.”
2) How was that righteousness accomplished?
Then how in the world was this righteousness, which God freely gives to us, prepared? Paul clearly teaches that this righteousness is the righteousness prepared by Jesus Christ Himself coming to this earth and accomplishing all things with that one body. Jesus first bore all the sins of all people in the world by receiving baptism from John the Baptist at the Jordan River. And Jesus, who bore all sins in that way, Himself fully received the punishment for those sins on the cross. Also, by rising again from the dead in three days, He gave us eternal life. (Matthew 3:13-17)
3) How does one receive that righteousness?
The righteousness of God, which Jesus Christ Himself accomplished in this way, can be transferred to us through only one way. That is namely faith. Paul clearly nails it down in Romans 3:28, saying, “Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law.”
4) What is the result?
The result that follows the person who has become righteous by believing this gospel is so glorious. Paul says in Romans 5:1, “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Also, in Romans 8:1 he declares, “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus,” and in 8:16-17 he says that the Holy Spirit Himself bears witness that we are children of God.
Dear readers, we now live in an age in which it would not be strange for the Antichrist to appear before long.
Therefore, you must believe now. Through this Bible-study book by Pastor Paul C. Jong, a servant of God of The New Life Mission — Romans Seen from the Perspective of the Gospel of the Water and the Spirit (I) — it is my hope that, by believing in Jesus’ ministry of His baptism, the blood of the cross, and His resurrection, you may become those who have been made sinless and who enjoy peace with God.
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