Useful Bible Studies > Romans Commentary > chapter 3
Psalm 11:7 says, ‘the righteous Lord (God) loves righteousness’. To be righteous is to be right and good; righteousness is goodness. God is completely good (James 1:17); he loves what is good and right.
It is at the death of Christ that we see God’s goodness most clearly. God is the good and perfect judge of all people (Genesis 18:25); therefore, he must punish our evil deeds. However, God is so good that he cares even for evil people (Ezekiel 18:32; Jonah 4:11; Romans 5:6-7). So he provided a way by which they could receive a right relationship with him.
God’s plan was that he himself would accept the punishment for people’s wrong and evil deeds. For that reason, Christ, who is God the Son, entered the world (Philippians 2:6-8; Hebrews 1:1-3). He only did what was right and good (1 Peter 2:21-24). However, people dealt cruelly with him (Isaiah 53:1-7) He suffered cruelty, shame, insults and, in the end, death.
Christ deserved no such punishment; he was guilty of no crime (Luke 23:4). Romans 5:8 gives the explanation: Christ died for us. That is, he died for those who have faith (trust) in him. The effect of his death is to justify them, in other words, to make them righteous. They themselves are not perfect but, because of Christ’s death, God forgives them (1 John 1:8-9). So now, they start to live in the way that pleases God.
That shows how much God loves righteousness. He has made it possible for people to become righteous, and he did it by a completely righteous method.
Next part: Christians must not be proud (Romans 3:27-28)
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