The Nature of the Gospel

The Righteousness of God in Romans 1:17

What is the gospel at its core? What is the heart of the good news that Paul declares he is not ashamed of? Simply this: the gospel reveals the righteousness of God.

But what does that mean? Is this righteousness a standard we must meet? Is it something we achieve? Or is it something infinitely better—a gift freely given to those who believe?

In Romans 1:17, Paul pulls back the curtain on the breathtaking nature of the gospel: “For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith.” These words don’t merely explain the gospel; they invite us to marvel at God’s grace and salvation. To grasp their full weight, we need to look back at how the Old Testament ties God’s righteousness to His saving work.

God’s Righteousness Revealed

Paul’s declaration—“the righteousness of God is revealed”—resonates with Old Testament language. Psalm 98:2-3 proclaims, “The Lord has made known his salvation; he has revealed his righteousness in the sight of the nations.” Similarly, Isaiah 56:1 says, “Thus says the Lord: Keep justice and do righteousness, for soon my salvation will come, and my righteousness be revealed.”

In both passages, salvation and righteousness are inseparable. God’s righteousness is His saving action—His commitment to deliver His people.

So when Paul writes that “the righteousness of God is revealed in the gospel,” he’s saying that the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ is the ultimate display of God’s saving work. Through Christ, God’s righteousness is no longer hidden; it’s fully unveiled and extended to sinners.

The Righteousness We Need

But the gospel doesn’t just reveal God’s righteousness; it also provides it. The righteousness God reveals isn’t something we earn. It’s the perfect righteousness of Jesus Christ, given to us by faith.

As sinners, we lack the righteousness to stand before a holy God. The gospel solves this problem by giving us what we could never achieve: Christ’s perfect obedience. John Fesko captures it well: “The gospel reveals the righteousness that God gives to his people—the perfect obedience of Christ.”

Paul emphasizes this with the phrase “from faith for faith.” Salvation is about faith—from beginning to end. It’s not faith and works. It’s not faith plus effort. It’s faith alone.

This isn’t a new concept. Old Testament believers trusted in God’s promise of a Savior, looking forward to Christ. We trust in the same Savior, looking back to His finished work on the cross. In both cases, salvation is grounded in God’s provision, not our performance.

Covered by Christ’s Righteousness

The righteousness revealed in the gospel is the righteousness of Christ. Christ’s perfect obedience and sacrificial death secure our standing before God, giving us a confidence that isn’t rooted in ourselves but in Him.

One commentator puts it succinctly: “Salvation always consists in reliance upon God’s righteous intervention in history.” Through the gospel, God acted decisively to save sinners, revealing His righteousness and granting it to those who believe.

The Good News

The heart of the gospel is this: God’s righteousness is revealed and given to us by faith. It’s not a reward for effort or moral achievement. It’s a gift—a gift that meets our greatest need and secures our salvation.

From the promises of the Old Testament to the fulfillment in Christ, the righteousness of God has always been the centerpiece of His redemptive plan.

This is why Paul isn’t ashamed of the gospel. It’s not just good news—it’s the best news. Through faith, we are forgiven, made righteous, and given eternal life. The righteousness of God is revealed, and in it, we stand secure.