But now, apart from the law, the righteousness of God has been revealed, attested by the Law and the Prophets. (CSB)

With the words 'But now,' Paul transitions his letter from discussing humanity’s desperate need for salvation to God’s incredible provision through Jesus. It's Paul's way of saying, “Here’s the good news you’ve been waiting for,” as he explains that God has transitioned the way He brings people into a relationship with Him. Paul spent the first two chapters showing how deeply everyone, Jew and Gentile alike, needs a Savior. This is also true for modern believers like us. That’s why many consider Romans 3:21-24 to be some of the most important verses in the New Testament. Today we’ll just look at Rom. 3:21-22a (the first sentence of 22).

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D.A. Carson’s New Testament Commentary summarizes this section nicely: “Paul’s point is that a new era in God’s plan has arrived now and that His way of bringing people into relationship with Himself takes place outside the confines of that old era... But Paul is careful at the same time to emphasize the continuity in God’s plan [and how] the law and the prophets of that covenant testify to it."

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I imagine this new way was easier news to swallow for the Gentiles than the Jews. Good Jews likely had a good amount of effort invested in following God’s law, only to discover that it could not make them righteous (Rom. 3:20). Paul sort of undresses everyone in the early part of Romans, exposing the true nature of humanity. It’s easy for all of us to believe we’re better than we are. I think this can be especially true if we have lived our whole lives within the church.

If we’re looking for a modern-day equivalent to the Jewish Christians, the recipients of Paul’s message, we can look to those of us who grew up in the church. When you grow up in church, you have had the Word of God, wise teachings of elders, mentors at different points, and possibly, a long relationship with Jesus. It can be easy for those of us who have been around the church block for a while to get sucked into comparing ourselves to that guy. You know, whoever that guy is that is clearly worse than us because of that thing he does or believes. This reminds me of how my husband and I thought we had parenting all figured out until we had actual children. Turns out, our real kids are little sinners raised by big sinners. Like the old joke says, just when you say, "My kid would never," here they come nevering like they never nevered before. I don't know about you, but God has truly let us see ourselves through marriage and parenting!

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Another example – maybe you've caught yourself thinking, "I'd never do that," only to realize later you're not as strong as you thought? In his commentary on Romans, R. Kent Hughes compares this tendency to paint the picture prettier than it is to the story of “The Emperor’s New Clothes.” When we convince ourselves we are clothed in beautiful garments when we’re actually naked, we’re just deceiving ourselves! The first step is an acknowledgement of reality. 

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After we do that, it’s good news for all. God made a way for His righteousness to be made known apart from the law for all of us. Verse 22 spells it out clearly – this righteousness is given through faith in Jesus to all of us.  

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If I'm honest, I probably have more in common with the Jews and Pharisees in the New Testament than anyone else. I am blessed to have known Jesus since I was young and had the opportunity to read the Word and sit under good teaching for a long time. But I still need Jesus just as much today as I did the first day I cried out to Him. I also still need Jesus just as much as someone who doesn’t know Him yet. It can be painful to be reminded that our “beautiful garments” are just rags compared to God’s righteousness revealed in Jesus. But thank God (literally), He loves us too much to leave us deceived.

It can be really easy for verses like the ones we covered today and tomorrow to lose their zing because of familiarity, especially for those who have been in the church and the Bible for a while. But these verses cover a deep truth we all need to sit with. No one is righteous apart from the righteousness Jesus gives us when we repent and submit to His lordship. Reflect today on how you may have fallen into the comparison trap and take the time to repent. I’m doing it with you as I write this. Then, spend a few minutes today worshipping God, maybe through a favorite worship song or journaling/praying about His goodness.