But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood —to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished — 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. Romans 3:31-26

The Apostle Paul levels the playing field with verse 23, we are all guilt of sin. But we can have the right standing before God through faith in Jesus Christ. It’s nothing we have done or could ever do to earn it. It is freely given.

And the big question we often ask about why Christ had to be sacrificed through the shedding of blood: why? Twice in these verses Paul tells us. It’s to demonstrate the righteousness of God. Even after we read the answer and study it, we still have that nagging question: why?

Why did He have to prove his righteousness?

Why did the Creator God care about us that much?

And why is faith in Jesus the only “requirement” needed for us to be justified?

So many questions. It may take us an eternity to discover the answers.