TIME WITH INSPIRE. The Revelation of Righteousness.
- Inspire Global Outreach
- Oct 14
- 5 min read
Romans 1:17
For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, 'The just shall live by faith.'"
Romans 1:17 is a pivotal verse in the New Testament, often considered the central theme or thesis statement of Paul's letter to the Romans.
Introduction: The Thesis of the Gospel
Friends, the Apostle Paul's letter to the Romans is arguably the most important theological document ever written. And if Romans is the theological Mount Everest, then Romans 1:17 is its very summit—the thesis statement for the entire Gospel message.
Paul has just declared in the previous verse that he is "not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes." Now, in verse 17, he explains why the Gospel is so powerful: it reveals the single greatest thing a human being can possess—the Righteousness of God.
The verse breaks down into three monumental truths:
The Subject: The Revelation of God’s Righteousness.
The Means: The Journey "From Faith to Faith."
The Result: The Life of the Just.
Let's unpack this verse and see the gateway to paradise, it opened for every believer.
I. The Subject: The Revelation of God’s Righteousness
A. The Problem of Human Righteousness
Before this verse can be "good news," we must understand the "bad news" it addresses. If you were asked, "How can you stand before a perfectly holy God?", your mind might go to your good deeds, your morality, or your religious efforts.
For centuries, many—including the young monk Martin Luther—believed the "righteousness of God" meant His active, condemning justice. They saw it as the attribute of God that demanded perfection and punished the imperfect. Luther once said he hated this phrase, because he knew his own best efforts as a monk were insufficient. God's standard was absolute, and he was absolutely lost.
B. The Nature of God’s Revealed Righteousness
But then, light burst into the tower room! Luther realized Paul was not speaking of the righteousness God is, but the righteousness God GIVES.
It is not inherent: We do not possess it in ourselves.
It is not earned: It is not a wage for work.
It is revealed: It is a gift disclosed only in the Gospel.
The "Righteousness of God" is a right standing that God graciously and mercifully imputes (credits) to the sinner who believes in Christ. It is Christ's perfect life and atoning death applied to our account. We receive an "alien righteousness," a righteousness that is "outside of us," perfectly fulfilling God’s righteous demands. That is why this is such good news—it completely bypasses our failed performance!
II. The Means: The Journey "From Faith to Faith"
If this righteousness is a gift, how is it received? Paul says it is "revealed from faith to faith." This short phrase speaks volumes about the nature of our Christian life.
A. Faith is the Sole Channel
Our justification is received by faith, which is simply a personal, active trust in Jesus Christ. It is the empty hand extended to receive the free gift. This phrase "from faith to faith" tells us that faith is the means from the beginning to the end of our Christian journey.
It is not from "faith to works," as if faith begins the journey and works sustain it.
It is not from "works to faith," as if you must clean up your life before you can be saved.
It is from faith to faith: Faith alone justifies us at the start, and faith alone sustains us in the living of our lives.
B. A Life of Continual Trust
This phrase is an anchor, especially for the believer struggling with doubt or failure. When you stumble, do you return to your works? No! You return to faith. The moment you are saved, you have all the righteousness of Christ. Your daily task is not to earn more, but to live in the reality of what you already possess. It’s a call to increasing, unceasing dependence on Christ.
III. The Result: The Life of the Just
Paul concludes by quoting the prophet Habakkuk (2:4): "The just shall live by faith." This final statement is the great summary and conclusion of the whole matter.
A. Righteousness is Life
The one who has been declared righteous by God (the just) now possesses true life (shall live). In the Bible, "life" does not simply mean existence, but eternal life, life in relationship with God, and a purposeful, satisfying existence today.
B. Life is Dependence
This life, however, is not lived by a new, self-generated strength, but "by faith." The same faith that makes you righteous is the faith that enables you to live righteously.
Faith for Forgiveness: When you sin, you don't earn forgiveness; you simply believe that Christ's blood is sufficient.
Faith for Strength: When you face temptation, you don't rely on willpower; you believe the Holy Spirit is powerful within you.
Faith for the Future: When you face death, you don't cling to your resumé of works; you cling to the promise that Jesus lives.
The just person is not merely one who has a righteous status; they are one whose entire existence is characterized by reliance on God. To live by faith means that our security, our strength, and our hope are all tied up in Christ's righteousness, not our own.
Conclusion: Walk Through the Gate
This single verse, Romans 1:17, changed the world 500 years ago, and it must change your world today.
For those who are exhausted from trying to be "good enough," for those tormented by their disturbed conscience, the Gospel offers a stunning alternative to the way of works:
You do not need to generate a righteousness to get life.
You need to receive the Righteousness of God by faith to get life.
The gate to paradise, the gate to a clear conscience, the gate to a life truly lived, is thrown open. It is not opened by the hard work of your hands, but by the open hand of faith.
If you have never truly stopped working and simply started trusting, I urge you today: Receive the revealed righteousness of God. Believe that Christ is enough.
And for those of us who believe, let us live out the second half of the promise: The just shall live by faith. Let this day, and every day forward, be a journey "from faith to faith," trusting Christ alone for everything, until we see Him face to face. Amen.
Beloved, let me share a prayer with you.
Heavenly Father, we praise You for the glorious truth revealed in Your Gospel. Thank You that 'in it the righteousness of God is revealed.' We confess that we have no righteousness of our own, and we were trapped by the demanding justice of the Law. But through Christ, You have freely gifted us Your perfect, alien righteousness. Open the eyes of our hearts today to grasp the sheer depth of this grace, that we might stand before You not in our merit, but clothed in Christ's perfection. Let this truth anchor our souls and silence the voice of self-condemnation. Amen."
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