A righteousness from God

Recently, I've been listening to podcasts of sermons from the Sydney Anglican website. Listening to these kind of sermons online is a great way for me to still get in depth Bible teaching even though I'm out teaching Sunday School during the sermon at church. I've been listening to a series from St. Thomas' Anglican that goes through the first five chapters of Romans. I've really been enjoying the depth and richness of doctrine that is found in the book of Romans. Lots of things to sink my teeth into intellectually, but it also engages my heart in thankfulness when I realise how sinful all humans are and how holy and faithful God is.

The sermon I was listening to yesterday was about Romans 3:21-32, which is a completely amazing passage. The book has just been talking about how not even one person is righteous, and that all people deserve God's judgement, and then the good news breaks through with 'But now a righteousness from God, apart from the law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify'. (Romans 3:21). We had absolutely no chance of being righteous before God, but God himself has provided our righteousness through Jesus Christ. This righteousness comes through faith in the one who gave us this gift, not through our own works.

The thing that really struck me in this sermon was thinking about the three things that Christ did for us through his death on the cross. They all result in bringing us to the Father, but they deal with different aspects of the problem. Firstly, Jesus justified us. Through trusting in his death, we are declared innocent even though we are guilty. Secondly, Jesus redeemed us. He paid the price to free us from sin and death. Thirdly, Jesus atoned for us. That lovely big word called 'propitiation'. Through Jesus dying in our place, the anger of God was satisfied. These things that Jesus has done for us mean that we no longer have to be separated from God. We can come close to God, and inherit eternal life in Heaven. Reflecting on the grace and love and glory of God as seen through the cross fills me with thankfulness and adoration.