Romans 3:21-26 says: "But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus."
Justification comes "apart from the law" (v. 21). It cannot be earned through good works or good deeds done by us, or by any other merit we think we may have. Justification is provided for us only by the sacrificial death of Christ—by the shed blood of Christ on the cross. Justification is God's gracious gift given freely to all who receive Jesus Christ and His sacrifice by faith. God demonstrates His righteousness by bestowing justification on all who believe.
The penalty for sin is death. Romans 6:23 says, "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 10:9 adds, "If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." When you trust in Jesus and His shed blood on the cross, you are acquitted or found not guilty of your sin. Your sin is forgiven and your fellowship with God which was broken because of your sin is restored.
Because of sin you had lost favor with God, but through your faith God's favor is restored. So justification is more than just acquittal concerning the penalty of sin. It is full acceptance by God. You are fully accepted back into fellowship with God. Your walk with Jesus is renewed. You are now "the friend of God" (James 2:23) and "heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ" (Rom. 8:17).
"Propitiation" (Rom. 3:25) has to do with the appeasement of, or the satisfaction of, God's wrath. It carries the idea of being reconciled to God. The phrase "by His blood" (v. 25) is understood to be immediately connected to "propitiation" (W. E. Vine, M.A., Vine’s Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words, Unabridged Edition, [MacDonald Publishing Company: McLean, Virginia, no copyright], 906). Through the atoning, sacrificial death of Christ on the cross, God bestows His justifying grace on the sinner who believes (Ibid).
Trying to earn your way to heaven always falls short. It is strictly by grace through faith that you are saved. Ephesians 2:8-9 says specifically, "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast." There is nothing you can do to earn justification. You are strictly saved by God's grace through faith. At the moment of salvation you are justified, or declared righteous. The work of Jesus on the cross was finished, providing the way for your justification.
Romans 5:9 says, "Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him." Our justification comes through the blood. Jesus shed his blood for us. He paid the penalty we deserved to pay. We were the guilty party, not Him. Yet Jesus willingly took our sin upon Himself and paid the penalty of death on our behalf. He was our substitute. As a result, we are forgiven and justified by His blood, and saved from God's wrath. Our only response can be to trust in Jesus. Amen.
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