Romans

There are two elements blended together in God's redemptive act in Christ. These elements are righteousness and blood. Paul not only ascribes salvation to the blood of Christ but also to the righteousness of Christ. In Romans 3:22 he tells us that righteousness is "unto all and upon all them that believe. " " . . . David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works . . ." (Rom. 4:6). In Romans 5:18-19 Paul says that this is "the righteousness of One" or "the obedience of One." The apostle Peter calls it "the righteousness of . . . Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 1:1).

The gospel is about Jesus Christ (Rom 1:3) — His righteousness and blood. If Christ is our Sun, then half of this Sun's luster is dimmed when we fail to rivet our attention on the grand theme of the righteousness of Jesus.