- He Himself is righteous and that He justifies and accepts as righteous him who has [true] faith in Jesus. [AMP]
- that he might himself be just, and the justifier of him that hath faith in Jesus. [ASV]
- so that he might himself be upright, and give righteousness to him who has faith in Jesus. [BBE]
- so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. [ESV]
- a demonstration of His righteousness in the present time, for His being just and justifying the one that is of the faith of Jesus. [LITV]
εἰς τὸ εἶναι αὐτὸν δίκαιον καὶ δικαιοῦντα τὸν ἐκ πίστεως ᾿Ιησοῦ
so that {to be} he just and justifying {the one} {out of} faith {of Jesus}
I am sure we all know the concept of justice, being just and passing judgement on others as to whether they are just or unjust. In the right or in the wrong?
If a judge is just then he always makes judgements on the basis of truth and honesty. There is no question as to his integrity because he is JUST.
If a judge is faced with a judgement on an unjust person and that person is a personal friend and the judge takes pity on him and declares him innocent, he is no longer a just judge. Therein lies the huge challenge in this verse and a huge challenge for God. If He is a JUST judge He cannot declare an UNJUST person to be JUST. In the instant He does that He is no longer a JUST judge, nor a JUST God.
How does God justify UNJUST mankind and still remain JUST when He does it? Therein lies the dilemma. If I appear before His throne in judgement and He says Ian you are sinful and fall short of My standards. You deserve to die an eternal death and be separated from Me forever. But I will overlook it all and let you go free. I feel particularly charitable today. Go free Ian. He is no longer a JUST judge because He has not upheld the law; the very thing He is required to do.
Instead God says Ian you deserve death. You deserve to be punished for your wrong doing. You are guilty and you must pay. But when it comes to the time to pay, He steps down from His judgement seat and says “I will pay the price for Ian”. In Christ the law has been kept and the price has been paid. God did it all.
Wow that is mercy. That is G.R.A.C.E. God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense – yet people go to any length to provide their own . . . by reason of pride.!!
This is how sinners can be called saints. It all depends on who is calling them saints. Saint is not a term given by men to men but a term that God gives to sinners who are covered by the blood of Christ. Because if you are covered by the blood of Christ when God looks at you He does not see your unrighteousness but rather Christ’s righteousness. Now that is huge and hugely comforting. Let that soak into your spirit. It will change your life; how you view yourself and how you view others.
“I know you have no righteousness of your own…here, have mine.” God