²¹ But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets …

Four times in Romans, we find this phrase: “But now ….” (6:22, 7:6, 7:17). What a wonderful phrase; it signals a release from the alarming consequences and talionic (consummately appropriate) justice of Paul’s unfolding logic. All have sinned, even those who attempt to gain righteousness through religious or moral efforts, and therefore we are all found to be unrighteous, deserving God’s ultimate judgment and condemnation. If all that Paul has written so far is true—if everyone has failed—then what hope does anyone have for ever gaining righteousness?

“But now …” is one of the most beautiful, death-quenching, life-giving wedges of hope for those willing to put aside foolish arguments and attempts to justify themselves. “But now …” means there is a way, but it must come in some other fashion than originating with humankind. It comes “apart from the Law.” The word “apart” carries the connotation of being a distance away from something or in the absence of the Law. There is a completely different kind of righteousness, but it is nothing new. The Law does in fact indicate that truth. The great irony is that the Jews were attempting to use the Law to gain righteousness that was human-based, human-energized, human-merited. But the Law, in actuality, pointed to a different kind of righteousness—not a righteousness through keeping the Law, but one to which the Law bore witness. What does that mean?

Here we are getting ahead of Paul, but we cannot resist commenting briefly. We will soon see, as the apostle unfolds for us, that the Law does not supply righteousness; it points out our unrighteousness. It gives sin and unrighteousness a platform to show true colors. It is a measuring tool to show us how far short we fall of God’s standards. The harder one tries to keep the Law, the more aware he becomes of how far short he falls and therefore more guilty.

The prophets also spoke of this other kind of righteousness that is not based on the Law. David, for one, wrote about this after his fall concerning Uriah and Bathsheba (2 Sam 11-12): “Be gracious to me, O God, according to Your loving-kindness…Deliver me from blood-guiltiness…Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity…You are justified when You speak and blameless when You judge … my tongue will joyfully sing of Your righteousness” (Ps 51:1, 2, 4, 14). His hope was not in his own righteousness, but in a different kind of righteousness, namely, God’s righteousness. In that he rejoiced!

Lord, I trust not to my own righteousness, but in Your righteousness alone!