19. Now we know that whatever the Law says, it speaks to those who
are under the Law, that every mouth may be closed, and all the world may become
accountable to God;
[Comment: God set up rules to live by and all of us have failed the
test. This should reveal to us that we have a big problem. The Bible calls it
"sin", and sin leads to separation from a holy God. No one is above the Law of
God.]
20. because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in
His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin.
[Because you and I have not lived keeping all the rules perfectly,
as God would do Himself, the Law cannot justify us. We are guilty and we know it.]
21. But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been
manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets,
[The reference to the Law and the Prophets is another way of saying
the Old Testament. What Paul is saying is that the Old Testament not only gives us the Law
that condemns us, but it also points to something else about God's character - His
righteousness.]
22. even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for
all those who believe; for there is no distinction;
23. for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
[Putting verses 21 through 23 together, Paul is saying that the Old
Testament gave us the Law and also pointed to a plan God had outside the Law to save us,
namely faith in Jesus Christ. He goes on to say that it will work for everyone - Jews and
Gentiles alike (this includes everyone in the whole world), because we have all blown it].
24. being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption
which is in Christ Jesus;
25. whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood
through faith.
[How are we justified? By keeping rules? By living sinless lives?
Fortunately not. It is a gift. What is the gift exactly? It's the blood Jesus shed when He
went to the cross a sinless man. We know He was sinless because He rose again on the third
day. His blood did not have to pay for His own sins, so He could give it to you and me.
The word, "propitiation" simply means a substitution. It means that the judge
can declare me guiltless (justify me) by substituting Jesus' sinless life for my sinful
one. He died for me.]