There is "a righteousness from God, apart from law." This statement from Romans 3:21 is the most liberating statement ever made. This righteousness is the state of being accepted by Almighty God, being in His favor. This is the gospel--the good news--yet it is also the most divisive concept ever.

Why is it that we as people are always looking for "something for nothing," yet for the most part we reject this magnificent offer by God, defiantly declaring we would rather "do it ourselves"?

We will be dependent as long as we can keep control, but when dependence takes control out of our hands, we rebel. So it is as we relate to the living God of heaven.

The Apostle Paul continues in verse 22, "This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe." The gospel message of salvation freely accepted in simple childlike faith leads to a transformation of life and values. Many have believed and have entered into the family of God. A greater number of people have not believed.

Among some of the notable disbelievers in history were the Jewish religious leaders to whom Jesus Christ first directed His message. They preferred works of the law, which had no power to make them righteous but somehow gave them a feeling of control and self-satisfaction in that they thought they could force God to accept them regardless of His declaration otherwise.

The rejection of this truth in Romans 3:21 by the Jewish religious leaders led to Jesus Christ being killed, crucified at the hands of Roman soldiers. The Jews thought it was over, but God raised Jesus from the dead. The Holy Spirit empowered the communicators of this gospel of righteousness by faith through the grace of God, and that gospel continues to this day rescuing people from their sins.

The gospel is good news--peace with God, initiated by God Himself--requiring no effort on our part except to believe and accept it.

The Apostle Paul was one of those Jewish leaders in the days when Jesus walked the earth. Paul was an enemy of the gospel until God broke through to his heart, and Paul yielded to the righteousness of God by faith alone. The gospel set him free in his spirit. The steadfast refusal of the grace of God in other human hearts eventually led to Paul being imprisoned and put to death just because he was sharing this life-changing truth.

When Martin Luther, a monk in the 15^th century, read this passage, it revolutionized his life and his religion, and it propelled the world out of the dark ages into a glorious renaissance of truth.

Nothing has changed. The gospel continues to set people free, but it is still the most hated truth on the face of the earth. This is the greatest paradox ever. The gospel of personal freedom continues to lead to the imprisonment and death of more people than any other single cause in the world.

What about us? How are we relating? Are we stubbornly going our own way, rejecting any claim God may have on our life, or are we humbly submitting to Almighty God and allowing Him to do His work in our hearts and lives?

Righteousness apart from the works of the law. What a glorious truth! Believe it; embrace it. It will revolutionize your life.