Righteousness of God Revealed
A Sermon on Righteousness from Romans 1:16-17
Originally preached April 13, 1956
Scripture
16For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. 17For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is …
Sermon Description
What does the righteousness of God entail? How can sinful man stand before a righteous God? In this sermon on righteousness from Romans 1:16-17 titled “Righteousness of God Revealed,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones offers a clear and compelling look at the righteousness that comes from God and is applied to the believer in such a way that it satisfies God’s holiness. In this context of Paul’s letter, righteousness is more than an attribute of God. It is a righteousness that conforms to God’s law and is well-pleasing in his sight. This righteousness provided from God to the Christian comes from Jesus Christ who has satisfied the law in every way. As Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains, that righteousness is now put to the believers account not by his own works or merit but by taking on the righteousness of Christ by faith. Thereby, they are now considered in right standing before God. This great act of righteousness obtained through Christ is a revelation, an unveiling that happened in God’s sovereign plan, that is made clear in the New Testament.
Sermon Breakdown
- The apostle Paul lays down the theme of Romans in verses 16 and 17.
- In verse 16, Paul states the theme in general. In verse 17, he particularizes.
- Alternatively, in verses 16 and 17 Paul gives reasons for not being ashamed of the gospel.
- Reason 1: The gospel is good news.
- Reason 2: The gospel deals with salvation.
- Reason 3: The gospel is God's message.
- Reason 4: The gospel is a powerful, effective message.
- Reason 5: The gospel is for all people.
- Reason 6: The gospel reveals how it is the power of God unto salvation.
- The gospel isn't a quest or search but a revelation.
- Revelation means making manifest, plain, or clear what was previously known in part.
- The gospel was witnessed to in the Old Testament but is now fully revealed.
- Reason 7: The content of the revelation is the righteousness of God.
- The righteousness of God here means a righteousness that comes from God and satisfies God.
- Righteousness means conformity to God's law and acceptance by God.
- The gospel insists on righteousness as much as the law. The gospel establishes the law.
- The ultimate objective of the gospel is to enable us to stand in God's presence.
- The gospel provides the righteousness God demands through faith in Christ.
- Christ satisfied the law's demands and took our punishment so we can have His righteousness.
- Reason 8: The gospel shows how this righteousness becomes ours through faith.
- Faith is not something all people have or the assumption that life will continue as normal.
- Faith is the gift of God given to Christians alone by which we receive righteousness.
- A better translation is "the righteousness of God is revealed by faith to faith."
- "By faith" means faith is the channel through which righteousness comes, not the condition.
- Our faith does not justify us or constitute our righteousness. It receives Christ's righteousness.
- "From faith to faith" means God's righteousness by faith is revealed to faith in believers.
- The just shall live by faith - those righteous through faith will live eternally.
Sermon Q&A
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones on Romans 1:16-17: Faith and the Righteousness of God
What is the central theme of Romans according to Dr. Lloyd-Jones?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, Romans 1:16-17 lays down the great theme of the entire epistle. He states: "Now we have indicated that in these two verses the apostle lays down the great theme, the great subject of the Holy Epistle. The epistle is primarily an exposition of these two verses." The central theme is the gospel as the power of God for salvation through the revelation of the righteousness of God that comes by faith.
Why did Paul say he was "not ashamed of the gospel"?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones identifies eight reasons why Paul was not ashamed of the gospel: 1. He had a gospel to preach (good news) 2. It deals with salvation 3. It's God's message 4. It's a powerful, effective message 5. It's for everyone ("for the Jew first, and also to the Greek") 6. It reveals how God's power unto salvation works 7. It reveals the righteousness of God 8. It shows how this righteousness becomes ours (from faith to faith)
What does "the righteousness of God" mean in Romans 1:17?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that "the righteousness of God" in this context does not refer to God's attribute of righteousness (which would be terrifying for sinners), but rather "a righteousness that comes from God and a righteousness that satisfies God." He clarifies: "What the gospel announces is this, that God sent him [Christ] to do that. And God's way of salvation is that he now gives to us who believe in Christ the righteousness of Jesus Christ himself, he imputes to us." It is a righteousness provided by God through Christ that is freely given to believers.
How did Martin Luther's understanding of Romans 1:17 transform his life?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, Luther initially misunderstood "the righteousness of God" as God's attribute of perfect holiness, which terrified him. Luther himself said, "I labored diligently and anxiously as to how to understand Paul's word... the righteousness of God blocked the way... I wished always that God had not made the gospel known."
When Luther finally understood that it referred to a righteousness God gives to believers through faith, it revolutionized his life. Lloyd-Jones quotes Luther: "When I saw the difference that law is one thing and gospel another, I broke through... as I had formerly hated the expression the righteousness of God, I now began to regard it as my dearest and most comforting word, so that this expression of Paul's became to me in very truth, a gate to paradise."
What is the relationship between faith and righteousness in Romans 1:17?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that faith is not our righteousness but the instrument by which we receive Christ's righteousness. He states: "Our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is not our righteousness. Our faith does not constitute our righteousness. Faith is simply the instrument by which we receive the righteousness."
He adds: "Our faith does not justify us. It is the righteousness of Jesus Christ that justifies us and nothing else." Faith is the channel through which God's righteousness in Christ comes to us, not a work we do to earn salvation.
What does "from faith to faith" mean in Romans 1:17?
While noting several possible interpretations, Dr. Lloyd-Jones prefers to understand "from faith to faith" as meaning "that God's righteousness by faith is revealed to our faith." He explains: "It is only the man who has faith, who sees this righteousness by faith of Jesus Christ, and he accepts it. He submits himself to it, and he rejoices in it and in it alone." It emphasizes that salvation is entirely by faith from beginning to end.
What is the significance of "the just shall live by faith" in Romans 1:17?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that this quotation from Habakkuk was particularly significant to Luther's spiritual breakthrough. He suggests a better translation would be "the righteous by faith shall live," meaning those who are made righteous through faith will truly live. He concludes: "Having been justified by God, we are eternally safe," referring to Romans 8:38-39 that nothing "shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
The Book of Romans
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981) was a Welsh evangelical minister who preached and taught in the Reformed tradition. His principal ministry was at Westminster Chapel, in central London, from 1939-1968, where he delivered multi-year expositions on books of the bible such as Romans, Ephesians and the Gospel of John. In addition to the MLJ Trust’s collection of 1,600 of these sermons in audio format, most of these great sermon series are available in book form (including a 14 volume collection of the Romans sermons), as are other series such as "Spiritual Depression", "Studies in the Sermon on the Mount" and "Great Biblical Doctrines". He is considered by many evangelical leaders today to be an authority on biblical truth and the sufficiency of Scripture.