Faith unites us with the righteous One, Jesus Christ. It
puts us in Christ, members of His body and partakers of
His nature (Eph 5:30; II Pet 1:4). We are accepted in the
beloved (Eph 1:6), complete in him (Col 2:10) , perfected
forever (Heb 10:14). For Christ is the end of the law for
righteousness to every one that believeth (Rom 10:4). The
end requirement of the law is perfect righteousness. Christ
is that for the believer. He is THE LORD OUR
RIGHTEOUSNESS (Jer 23:6); in the LORD have I right-
eousness ... in the LORD shall all the seed of Israel be justi-
fied (Is 45:24-25). Paul longed to be found in him, not
having mine own righteousness which is of the law, but
that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness
which is of God by faith (Phil 3:9). So, abiding in Christ,
we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness
by faith (Gal 5:5); for, we shall be like him; for we shall
see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in
him purifieth himself, even as he is pure (I Jn 3:2- 3 ).
Moreover the law entered, that the offence
might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did
much more abound: That as sin hath reigned unto
death, even so might grace reign through right-
eousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord
(5:20-21)
Why do we need righteousness gifted to us by faith?
Because we cannot attain righteousness by following after
God’s righteous law; the Jews tried that, and failed (Rom
9:30-33). Rather than delivering us from our sinful bent,
the commands and prohibitions of the law arouse the sin
dwelling in us (see Rom 7). In fact, the strength of sin is
the law (I Cor 15:56 ). Paul here says the law “entered”
(was given) so sin “might abound” in our lives. By this,
God helps poor sinners to better sense their need of Christ