Romans 3:20-21 The Righteousness of God Without the Law

Romans 3:20-21 (KJV)  Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; 

The righteousness of God without the law is the righteousness that Christ clothed us with by His perfect life and by His atoning death on our behalf. The sense of the text is that we are utterly lost in sin and unable to save ourselves by our own effort to obey the law. Hard as we might try, we disappoint ourselves, and we know it, and we are helplessly drowned in our sins.

But there is a way out. This is the message of Moses and the prophets. The law has been fulfilled on our behalf by the Saviour and He has also paid the penalty for our transgressions of the law. We can come to Christ to be right with God.

What a blessing it is that we come to know the way back to God and embrace it by faith. This is the wisdom put forth in the Scriptures, the righteousness without the law through Christ. Amen.