Even the righteousness of God, which is by faith of
Jesus
Christ
A further account is given of this righteousness: why it is
called "the righteousness of God", and in what sense revealed and
manifested, (See Gill on Romans
1:17); Here it is said to be "by faith of Jesus Christ";
not by that faith which Christ himself had as man, but by that
faith, of which he the author and object: the Alexandrian copy
reads, "by faith in Jesus Christ"; and not by that as the cause
of justification; for faith is neither the efficient, nor the
moving, nor meritorious cause of it; no, nor the instrumental
cause of it on the part of God or Christ: nor is faith the matter
of a justifying righteousness; for faith is a part of
sanctification, is itself imperfect, is a man's own, as it is
implanted in him, and exercised by him; is here and elsewhere
distinguished from righteousness; something else, and not that,
as the obedience and blood of Christ, are said to be what men are
made righteous and justified by: but faith is a means of
apprehending and receiving righteousness; it views the excellency
of Christ's righteousness; it owns the sufficiency of it; the
soul by it renounces its own righteousness, submits to Christ's,
rejoices in it, and gives him the glory of it: now this is by, or
through faith,
unto all, and upon all:
not all men, for all have not faith, nor are all justified and
saved: but
all that believe;
which must be understood, not of believing any thing, nor of any
sort of believing; but of such, who truly and with the heart
believe in Christ for salvation; and who are here opposed to the
wise philosophers among the Gentiles, had to all self-righteous
persons among the Jews. Though this character does not design any
cause or condition of justification, but is only descriptive of
the persons, who are declaratively interested in a justifying
righteousness, which is said to be "unto", and "upon them"; that
is, it is appointed, provided, and wrought out for them, and
directed and applied unto them, and put upon them as a garment,
and that upon all of them:
for there is no difference;
of nation, age, or sex, or of state and condition; no respect is
had to persons or works; nor is there any difference with respect
to weak or strong believers; the righteousness is equally applied
to one as to another, and one is as much justified by it in the
sight of God as another.