In Romans 1:16, 17, Paul affirmed that the gospel reveals the righteousness of God. The question — what is the righteousness of God and what it entails — is one that has been discussed and written about throughout history.

Let me place before you these thoughts:

1. First, the righteousness of God is a divine attribute. When Jesus was set forth to be our atonement — our propitiation, God did it to demonstrate His righteousness that He might be both "just and the justifier" of those who have faith in Jesus (Romans 3:25, 26).

All that God does is righteous whether in salvation or judgment. God is faithful to His own nature and inherently righteous. But, this character of God was not just revealed in the gospel. The Old Testament frequently refers to His righteousness ( Isaiah 46:13, Psalm 98:2).

2. Second, the righteousness of God is a divine activity. God is true to His covenant promises. His promise to Abraham is fulfilled in a world-wide family characterized by faith. His righteousness intervened in the course of history to bring about the fulfillment of that promise.

3. Third, the righteousness of God in the gospel is a divine achievement. The gospel is God’s way of making men righteous. It is a righteous status to which God brings us so we can stand before Him, a righteousness which God achieved through the atoning sacrifice of Christ on the cross.

Man could not establish "his own righteousness" though some attempted to do so (Romans 10:3). Man’s own righteousness is as "filthy rags" before God (Isaiah 64:6). (Continued on page 3) because it demanded perfection. Nor could man be justified by his own merit, i.e., "the works of righteousness which he has done" (Titus 3:5).

The righteousness of God revealed by the gospel is wrapped up in a person. Paul said, "But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption" (I Corinthians 1:30). "For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (II Corinthians 5:21).

Summarizing, the righteousness of God is God’s initiative in putting sinners right with Him. It is God’s justification of the unjust; His righteous way of pronouncing the unrighteous righteous. This He has done through Christ, the righteous One who died for the unrighteous. This is the heart and soul of the good news — what God has done through Christ on our behalf. Thank God!