Romans 3:19-26

19: Now we know that whatever the Law says, it speaks to those who are under the Law, so that every mouth may be closed and all the world may become accountable to 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.

21: But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets,
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,
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. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed;
26: for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

*** 

Paul had just said that no flesh would be justified by the Law, for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin, because everyone breaks it. Now, he said, righteousness is seen through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. Everyone has sinned, but through the liberating redemption of Jesus’ sacrifice, believers are freely justified—regarded as righteous—as if they had kept the Law. God publicly displayed the sacrifice of Jesus which openly declared righteousness through faith in His blood. Where previously God simply overlooked sin, or covered it, now He maintains the right to justify those who believe in Jesus, and He does so in keeping with His integrity.

God maintains His integrity. He is pure and holy and must treat sin accordingly. He doesn’t ignore it, deny it, or condone it. He has dealt with sin in a way which continues to honor His holiness. He did not compromise with sin in the New Covenant. Under the Old Covenant, sin was "passed over" or covered through the animal sacrifice offered in accordance with the Law. But now, through the sacrifice of Jesus, the sinner who believes in Him, putting faith in His shed blood, will be justified in God’s sight, cleansed from sin completely.

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