17  For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

Rom 1:17

Explanation:

It is in the Gospel that the righteousness of God revealed.  The word revealed has the idea of “uncovered”.  This is a theme in Paul’s letters.  Paul was the apostle called by God to proclaim the message of the Gospel and its implications that had been purposed previously in redemptive history and had been realized in the person and work of Jesus.  In other passages he spoke of the “mystery” of the Gospel.  It speaks of that which is now made known that was previously hidden.

What is the “righteousness of God” here?  It could speak of God’s righteous works in redemptive history now being revealed by the Gospel.  It could mean that God is making those who believe righteous through saving them.  It could mean that God is righteous in saving those that believe.  God’s righteousness is revealed in all three ways.  We may favor the interpretation that God is making those who believe righteous because of his quote:

Hab 2:4 (KJV)

4  Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.

Application:

It is faith in Christ that justifies the believer.  When we accept Christ as Savior we are made righteous by Christ.  It is an “alien” righteousness in that it is a righteousness that is not our own.  We must believe the Gospel to be saved.  We are made righteous positionally in Christ through justification, and then we are made actually righteous as we trust Christ to grow us day by day through sanctification.

Response:

• Have you trusted Christ as Savior?
• Are you growing in righteousness?
• Take some time today to thank God for His righteousness!