Romans 3:21-26

3:21 But now the righteousness of hwhy has been manifested apart from Torah, although the Torah and the prophets bear witness to it, ²²the righteousness of hwhy through a’men in Mashiach Y’shua for all who believe. For there is no distinction; ²³since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of hwhy, ²⁴they are justified (acceptable) by his /j (Chen- kindness) grace as a gift, through the redemption (liberation) which is in Y’shua HaMashiach, ²⁵whom hwhy put forward as an expiation (payment of penalty) by his blood, to be received by a’men. This was to show hwhy 's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins; ²⁶it was to prove at the present time that he himself is righteous and that he justifies (accepts) him who has a’men in Y’shua.

Romans 3:21-26 are probably the grandest words of the book of Romans. Righteousness; a requirement for believers, citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven. How to attain righteousness is the question.

If Torah (the Law) is a handbook, a how-to for righteous living, then we are doomed. Torah gives an awareness of sin with its sense of guilt. Guilt does not bring righteousness. It turns out that Torah is not of book of "do" but a book of "be". (1 Peter 1: 15-16) The righteousness is YHVH's. He sent me a hero to liberate me from slavery to sin. Liberation is a gift to be accepted (never earned).

Here is where Torah comes in, it testifies of Passover, the blood payment of an innocent for the guilty. The washing of sin (not the suppression of sin through rules), the REMOVAL of guilt. The realization that YHVH is my righteousness. Faith in Y'shua declares it. Every time I stand firm in Messiah I declare that YHVH is Righteous, even in this modern era. Joy!

Personal study of Romans.