For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.” Romans 1:17

When Paul made this bold statement, that now ‘a righteousness from God is revealed’, he didn’t mean that it was revealed through his ideas or thoughts, but rather that it was revealed to us in the Scriptures. It was always there, but mankind could not understand it. God’s good news of ‘a righteousness by faith’ had always been testified to, but, without the revelation of Jesus and the understanding of what his death and resurrection accomplished for us, mankind was always unable to interpret the words of God in light of this way, and so it remained a mystery.

Now, through the light of Christ, we can finally see! As Paul says in his letter to the Corinthians:

Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold. We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to keep the Israelites from gazing at it while the radiance was fading away. But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away. Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 2 Corinthians 3:12-16

Without the light of Christ, mankind continues to read the Old Testament as if it were veiled of it’s true meaning and intention, but now that we are in Christ that veil has been removed, and we, who allow the revelation of Jesus to be our guide, can clearly see the story of Jesus and the message of God’s grace throughout all the scriptures.

When Paul made this bold statement about a righteousness by faith, he backed up his statement by quoting a scripture from the Old Testament, because when Paul looked at the Old Testament he saw the story of Jesus all through it. Jesus himself helped two of his disciples understand this scriptural reality as he walked along the road to Emmaus with them. Luke records how Jesus opened up their eyes to see him in all the scriptures, starting with Moses and going through all the prophets.

And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself. Luke 24:27

The truth is that whole bible testifies about Jesus and the grace that came to us through him. The Scriptures were never given to help mankind understand how to live before God, but rather to reveal, and testify to, the life story of Jesus, his suffering and the grace that would be given to us through his resurrection.

It is in this gospel that Paul testifies a righteousness from God is revealed; a righteousness by faith. Paul is leading up to explain to the church that righteousness is not revealed in the law (as in, follow these commands and rules and you will be a righteous person), but rather righteousness is revealed in the good news of Jesus Christ, that the law and the prophets all testify to.

Most of the church members in Rome were still holding onto their religious, traditional mindset that the law was God’s revelation of righteousness to mankind; but now Paul was walking them through the understanding of God’s true definition of righteousness.

It is a journey that not only the Roman church needed to take, but all of us need to walk through in order to truly become comfortable with this profound and glorious reality: Following a written code from God does not make one righteous, but rather it is by following the Son of God that makes one righteous! That can only be done by faith, so walk with faith today as you follow Jesus and rejoice that you have been made righteous in him.

It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.1 Corinthians 1:30