Paul talked all about the terms righteousness, faith, redemption, and justification in the book of Romans. How are humans trapped in a hopeless predicament? How has God acted to rescue people from the power of sin and death?

Righteousness means, “The righteous are those who trust that they will be vindicated by the Lord God. (Psalm 37:12-13). For in the gospel righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith alone, “The righteous will live by faith” (Romans 1:16–17). “No longer did He make his aim the attainment of that righteousness before God which was based on keeping the law. He had found a new way of righteousness, based on faith in Christ[1]. God made things right through the cross and opened up the ability to have a relationship with God. Faith is an act of trust or reliance. It is trusting in what is unseen and believing that God is who He says He is. Faith breeds a spirit of obedience in the heart of believers. An important aspect of faith is to know the nature and character of God.

Redemption means the deliverance from the penalty of sin. God paid our sin debt on the cross and paved the way for freedom (Rom. 3:24). It is important that people understand that they are held in bondage by sin and through Jesus we are redeemed and the sin debt is paid in full. People continually try to find acceptance through earthly relationships and through the New Testament the focus is upon righteousness being found only through a personal relationship with Christ.

Justification is to simply be made right before God. Justification describes the process a non-believer undergoes when they become a believer. Christ followers no longer need to fear judgment from God, as they have been justified before him (Romans 8:1). God’s forgiveness is seen throughout scripture. His plan is to redeem and save mankind from the penalty of sin. The book of Romans captures the essence of God’s salvation work throughout history.

The greatness of Christ’s love for man is found in the teachings of Paul in the book of Romans. Romans 5 explains the redemption of God in the lives of those that are lost. Paul begins with the explanation that there is hope through the redemption of Christ through the cross. It continues to explain that we are spiritually dead (Rom. 5:8). It finishes by explaining the importance that with Christ taking our place by dying a substitutionary death, we have the hope of salvation.

The clear and encouraging truth is that the only way a person can be made right in God’s eyes is through Jesus alone for their forgiveness and salvation. The problem remains that we are not saved through our good works, but by grace through faith in Christ alone for salvation (Ephesians 2:8-9).

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[1] (Apostle of the Heart Set Free, 189)

Bruce, F.F. “Paul: Apostle of the Heart set free."