This week we celebrated Reformation Sunday by exploring the doctrine of Sola Gratia (Grace Alone). I mentioned that years prior to the reformation Martin Luther was teaching a class through the book of Romans when he came upon Romans 1:17 which reads, “For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith.” This theme of the righteousness of God is mentioned in one form or another 8 different times in Romans (although it is worded differently elsewhere). Righteousness can be defined as the state or condition of being perfectly conformed to God’s law and Holy Character. True righteousness belongs only to the Lord—it is perfect because it is “of God” thus it is the perfect righteousness that only God possesses. This is where the issue lies—it is perfection so therefore we must be perfect to obtain it. This is why the righteousness of God was at the heart of Luther's theological struggle. No matter how hard he worked, he could never obtain it and by it he stood condemned.
It wasn't until Luther understood what Paul was illustrating when he wrote, “from faith to faith.” Two chapters later in Romans 3 he uses the exact same phrase again; “apart from law the righteousness of God has been manifested." (Rom. 3:21) This phrase seems to be placed here very strategically by Paul. In the verses leading up to it, Paul has established that this righteousness of God cannot be obtained by works. He even states in verse 5 that this righteousness of God is shown through our complete inability to be truly righteous. Having done this, verse 21 shows us that the righteousness of God can only be obtained apart from the law. As previously mentioned, it can only be obtained "through faith.”
This is the beauty of the gospel—true righteousness belongs to God; therefore, it is the righteousness of God. God offers us this "alien" righteousness freely in Christ based on no merit of our own. Paul echoes this concept elsewhere in his epistles. Perhaps, nowhere is it better explained than in his second letter to the church in Corinth: “He made him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf so that we might become the righteousness of God in him." (2 Cor. 5:21) Paul is showing his readers that sinful man can only become righteous in God’s sight through a substitute. Paul illustrates this further in Romans 4 as he draws upon the example of Abraham’s faith in Genesis 15: “21fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. 22 That is why his faith was “counted to him as righteousness.” 23 But the words “it was counted to him” were not written for his sake alone, 24 but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, 25 who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.” (Rom. 4:21-25) It was the gift of faith by which one received the righteousness of God. Paul makes clear that the substance of this righteousness is found in the person of Jesus Christ. Therefore, the righteousness of God that is necessary for salvation is given by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, on the authority of scripture alone, to the glory of God alone. What a gracious God we serve!