Go Deeper

Timothy Keller, Romans 1–7 for You, ed. Carl Laferton, God’s Word for You (The Good Book Company, 2014), 79–80.

The gospel, as we know from Romans 1:17, reveals a “righteousness from God” (Romans 3:21); or “the righteousness of God” (ESV). It is a righteousness displayed, but it is also a righteousness granted. The words “righteousness” and “justified” in these verses are all the same word: dikaiosune. So, verse 21 could read: But now a justification from/of God has been made known; verse 24 could be translated: and are righteousnessed freely.

Righteousness is a validating performance record which opens doors. When you want a job, you send in a resumé. It has all the experiences and skills that make you (you hope!) worthy of the position. You send it in and say: Look at this. Accept me! Your record has nothing on it that disqualifies you from the job; and it has (you hope!) everything that will qualify you for it.

Every religion and culture believes that it’s the same with God. It’s not a vocational record; it’s a moral or spiritual record. You get out your performance record and if it’s good enough, you’re worthy of life with God and you’re accepted. And then Paul comes along and says: But now … For the first time in history—and the last—an unheard-of approach to God has been revealed. A divine righteousness—the righteousness of God, a perfect record—is given to us.

No other place offers this. Outside of the gospel, we must develop a righteousness, and offer it to God, and say (hopefully and anxiously): Accept me. The gospel says that God has developed a perfect righteousness, and He offers it to us, and by it we are accepted. This is the uniqueness of the Christian gospel, and it reverses what every other religion and worldview, and even every human heart, believes.