How does Romans 3:21 connect with Old Testament prophecies about righteousness? The spotlight of Romans 3:21 “ But now, apart from the Law, the righteousness of God has been revealed, as attested by the Law and the Prophets.” Immediate context: righteousness apart from the Law • Paul has just shown every human—Jew and Gentile—guilty under sin (Romans 3:9–20). • Verse 21 announces a game-changing revelation: God’s own righteousness made available “apart from the Law,” yet fully “attested” by the very Scriptures Israel already possessed. • This means the gospel is not a novel idea; it is the long-promised fulfillment of what the Old Testament anticipated. Old Testament threads that anticipate a revealed righteousness • Genesis 15:6 – “Abram believed the LORD, and He credited it to him as righteousness.” Faith, not law-keeping, brings righteous standing. • Psalm 32:1-2 – David celebrates the blessedness of forgiven sin and righteousness imputed apart from works (quoted in Romans 4:6-8). • Habakkuk 2:4 – “The righteous will live by his faith,” a prophetic summary later cited in Romans 1:17. • Isaiah 46:13 – God promises, “I bring My righteousness near; it is not far away.” • Isaiah 51:5-6 – Righteousness draws near to the nations; salvation goes forth in power. • Isaiah 61:10 – The coming Servant clothes His people “with garments of salvation” and “a robe of righteousness.” • Jeremiah 23:5-6; 33:15-16 – The Messianic Branch will be called “The LORD our Righteousness,” giving His own standing to His people. • Daniel 9:24 – Messiah’s mission: “to bring in everlasting righteousness.” • Malachi 4:2 – “The sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings,” signaling dawn of salvation. Prophetic voices and their unified witness • Moses (Law) shows righteousness by faith in the life of Abraham and in sacrificial atonement foreshadowing Christ (Genesis 15; Leviticus 16). • David (Writings) sings of credited righteousness and undeserved forgiveness (Psalm 32). • Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Daniel (Prophets) announce a coming Servant-King who embodies and bestows God’s righteousness. • Habakkuk distills the principle: life comes through faith, not rule-keeping. How Romans 3:21 weaves it all together • “Apart from the Law” – Righteousness is not earned by obedience to the Mosaic code. • “Revealed” – What was hinted in symbols, sacrifices, and prophecies now stands fully disclosed in Christ. • “Attested by the Law and the Prophets” – Every major section of Scripture points forward to this gift of righteous standing granted through faith. From promise to fulfillment in Christ 1. Promise: God credits righteousness when sinners believe (Genesis 15:6). 2. Preparation: The sacrificial system dramatizes substitutionary atonement (Leviticus 17:11). 3. Prophecy: Messianic passages predict a righteous King who will justify many (Isaiah 53:11). 4. Fulfillment: Christ’s cross satisfies God’s justice, allowing Him to remain “just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus” (Romans 3:26). 5. Application: All who believe are “declared righteous” (Romans 3:24), clothed with the very righteousness foretold by the prophets. Living in the light of revealed righteousness • Assurance – The same God who promised righteousness has accomplished it; believers rest in His finished work. • Gratitude – Old Testament saints looked ahead in hope; New Testament believers enjoy the realized blessing. • Unity – Jew and Gentile share one righteous standing, fulfilling God’s plan to bless all nations (Genesis 12:3; Romans 3:29-30). • Hope – The prophets also foresaw final worldwide righteousness; the present gift guarantees future glory (2 Peter 3:13). God’s righteousness, long promised, now stands unveiled in Christ—exactly as the Law and the Prophets said it would. |
    |