Righteousness Through Faith

²¹ But now apart from the law the righteousness of God^(A) has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify.^{(B) 22} This righteousness^(C) is given through faith^(D) in^[a] Jesus Christ^(E) to all who believe.^(F) There is no difference between Jew and Gentile,^{(G) 23} for all have sinned^(H) and fall short of the glory of God, ²⁴ and all are justified^(I) freely by his grace^(J) through the redemption^(K) that came by Christ Jesus. ²⁵ God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement,^[b](L) through the shedding of his blood^(M)—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished^(N)— ²⁶ he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.

¹⁹ that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them.^(A) And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. ²⁰ We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors,^(B) as though God were making his appeal through us.^(C) We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.^{(D) 21} God made him who had no sin^(E) to be sin^[a] for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.^(F)

¹³ Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law^(A) by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.”^[a](B)