The righteousness of God is God's own right standing that He reveals and credits to everyone who believes in Jesus Christ, entirely apart from the law.
Romans 3:21–22 states that the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets, and that it is 'by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe.' Les Feldick emphasizes that no man's righteousness or good works are involved—it is all of His, and none of ours. At the moment we believe, God, by an act of imputation, gives His righteousness to our account.
Romans 3:21-22 — These verses directly define the righteousness of God as manifested without the law and received by faith in Jesus Christ.
Romans 1:17 — Paul says the righteousness of God is revealed in the gospel, tying the meaning of righteousness to faith.
The Apostle Paul writes in Romans 3:20–22: 'Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference.' In Romans 1:17 he adds, 'For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.' He also speaks of God's righteousness being declared for the remission of sins that are past (Romans 3:25). The writer of Hebrews says of Abel, 'By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.' Scripture presents the righteousness of God not as something produced by law-keeping, but as something revealed and received by faith.
Les Feldick teaches that the righteousness of God is the righteousness that God brings into the open—in the gospel—apart from the law. He points to Romans 3:21 and says this righteousness is 'manifested,' or put into the spotlight, while being witnessed by the law and the prophets. It does not do away with the Old Testament; it all dovetails together. Yet when God turned to the Gentiles, the old economy of the law—Israel's temple worship, priesthood, and sacrifices—slipped off the scene and something different began. Les also stresses that this righteousness comes by the faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe—plus nothing. Man's righteousness and good works never enter the picture. At the moment a person believes, God, by an act of imputation, gives His righteousness to the believer's account; it is all of His, and none of ours. To be 'righteous,' Les explains, does not mean walking around with a halo; it means being declared right with God and brought onto a footing where we can communicate with Him.
Les Feldick explains that 'the righteousness of God without the law is manifested'—put into the spotlight—and that this is witnessed by the law and the prophets. He emphasizes his own focus on Pauline teaching while making clear that the Old Testament is not forgotten; it dovetails with the New. The Old Testament was under the economy of the law to Israel, with temple worship, priesthood, and sacrifices, but when God turned to the Gentiles, that economy slipped off the scene and something totally different began.
Paul writes that the righteousness of God is 'by faith of Jesus Christ unto all, and upon all them that believe.' Les Feldick stresses that the text says believe—plus nothing. Man's righteousness and good works are never brought into this passage. It's all the righteousness of God. At the moment we believe, God, by an act of imputation, covers us or gives His righteousness to our account—none of ours, all of His.
Les Feldick points to Romans 3:25 and says God declared His righteousness for the remission of sins that are past. He explains that Old Testament believers, with the exception of Enoch and Elijah, went down into paradise rather than to heaven when they died. God's righteousness was involved in dealing with the sins of Old Testament believers.
Les Feldick says many people shrink from the word righteous because they think they have to be 'holier than thou' and walk around with a halo around their head. But righteous simply means being put on a footing with God so we can communicate with Him—having been declared righteous or right with Himself. He points to Abel, who obtained witness that he was righteous because God testified.
Righteousness Without the Law
Les shows that Romans 3:21 introduces a righteousness that is manifested without the law and witnessed by the law and prophets—so readers see that God's righteousness is not law-keeping.
Righteousness Through Faith in Jesus
Les connects the righteousness of God to the faith of Jesus Christ and stresses that it is upon all who believe, with nothing else added.
Righteousness Revealed in the Gospel
Les describes the righteousness of God as revealed in the gospel, comparing this unveiling to the temple veil being rent at Christ's death.
Believe Plus Nothing
Les emphasizes that the righteousness of God by faith requires only believing—plus nothing—and that nothing else is added.
No Man's Righteousness
Les points out that man's righteousness and good works are never mentioned in this passage; only the righteousness of God is brought in.
God's Righteousness and Old Testament Believers
Les explains that God declared His righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, referring to Old Testament believers who went to paradise.
Righteousness as a Right Standing
Les defines righteous as being declared right with God, not as being holier-than-thou, using Abel as an example.
Imputed Righteousness
Les teaches that at the moment we believe, God by imputation gives His righteousness to our account—it is all of His, none of ours.
Romans 3:20: Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
Paul sets up the need for a righteousness that is not based on law-keeping.
Romans 3:21: But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;
This is the key verse Les uses to introduce the righteousness of God apart from the law.
Romans 3:22: Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
This verse shows how God's righteousness is received—by faith in Jesus Christ, upon all who believe.
Romans 1:16-17: For 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. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
Paul reveals that God's righteousness is disclosed in the gospel itself.
Romans 3:25: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
This verse is the basis for Les's teaching that God's righteousness reaches back to Old Testament believers.
Hebrews 11:4: By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.
This verse connects righteousness with faith and God's own testimony, as Les points to in defining righteous.
No. Les Feldick says he never indicates that you should forget about the rest of Scripture. The Old Testament dovetails with the New, but it was predominantly under the economy of the law to Israel. When God turned to the Gentiles, that economy slipped off the scene and something totally different began.
According to Les, at the moment we believe God, by an act of imputation, covers us or gives His righteousness to our account. It is all of His righteousness and none of ours.
No. In Romans 3, man's righteousness and good works are never brought in. The text says the righteousness of God is by the faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe—plus nothing.
Watch the Teaching: Romans 3: Why No One Can Be Saved by the Law