Psalms 32:2 Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.
Righteousness declared, that is what we will look at next in Romans 3:25. God desires to make His righteousness known and that is what He was doing with the propitiation that was Jesus Christ. Until that propitiation, mankind could not know the righteousness of God. There were promises made to Abraham, and to Isaac, and to Jacob, but they were merely promises. They were promises that pointed to the Messiah. Now that the propitiation was performed, in that act God declared “I am righteous.” We see the ends to which God would declare His righteousness. He would send His Son into the world of man. He would walk amongst sinners. He would be persecuted and falsely accused. He would be beaten and ultimately would suffer death, even the death of the cross.
Philippians 3:7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. 8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, 9 And 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:
We see here the faith of Christ in Philippians 3:7. This faith of Christ is from what the righteousness of God comes. It is that righteousness earned and established through all that is the gospel of Christ. The gospel of Christ, the propitiation, that sacrifice that satisfied God declared the righteousness of God. God is in Himself righteousness, but this righteousness was different. It was that righteousness that came by the fulfillment of the law of God. This righteousness resulted from the work of God through Jesus Christ.
This righteousness does come by the law and is generally how men see God accepting them. It is true but men fail to see that they cannot impress God. They cannot commend themselves to God. There was one who satisfied God, it was Christ Jesus our Lord.
Isaiah 51:5 My righteousness is near; my salvation is gone forth, and mine arms shall judge the people; the isles shall wait upon me, and on mine arm shall they trust.
God is declaring that His righteousness is near. Who is the righteousness of God? He is Christ Jesus, the Son of the living God.
Matthew 3:15 And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.
There could be no righteousness until all be fulfilled. Jesus would say:
Matthew 5:18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
The righteousness that came by fulfillment of God’s law did not exist until the law was fulfilled in its entirety. When was this accomplished? It would be when Christ Himself would declare, IT IS FINISHED!