Romans 3:21-31
The Righteousness from God through Faith in Christ for Both Jews and Gentiles
In Romans 3:21, Paul asserts, ‘But now apart from the Law the righteousness of Christ has been revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets,’
Paul speaks in context again when he says, ‘apart from the Law’. He is still presenting the gospel in the context of Judaistic opposition.
In addition, his witness is from the ‘Law and the Prophets’ which are authoritative Jewish sources. Jews would have been insisting that it was necessary to subscribe to the Law.
Paul, in Romans 2, had already said that the Gentiles could do the requirements of the Law whilst not having the Law. He also declared that the Jews in having the Law, could not hope to escape God’s judgment when they are not doing the Law.
He also established in Romans 3:1-20 that despite the advantage the Jews have, they fail to believe, and Scriptures testify that the Jews are sinners.
So now, he proclaims that the righteousness that comes from Christ is ‘apart from the Law’.
Study of Romans 3:21-31
The Righteousness from God through Faith in Christ for Both Jews and Gentiles’
1. God institutes a righteousness apart from the Law, which righteousness has the witness of the Law and the prophets
a. characteristics of this righteousness
b. the way the righteousness is bestowed
c. how God’s own righteousness is demonstrated
2. Comparison of this righteousness with that from the Law
a. boasting is excluded by a law of faith
b. Gentiles have place with Jews as God’s people
c. the Law is not nullified but established
Verse Study:
vv. 21-26
1. God institutes a righteousness apart from the Law, which righteousness has the witness of the Law and the prophets
a. characteristics of this righteousness
b. the way the righteousness is bestowed
c. how God’s own righteousness is demonstrated
v. 21
Paul at this point declares the critical event of his exposition. It is the ‘the making known of the righteousness of God’.
a.
He details two important characteristics of this righteousness:
i. it is apart from the Law
ii. it has the witness of the Law and the prophets
He also provides the circumstance of the act, that is ‘now, in his time and the time of his readers’.
b.
v. 22
How is this righteousness bestowed?
It is obtained through faith in Jesus Christ. He also says that it is for all. This means for both Jews and Gentiles.
The Jews, despite their heritage, obtains the righteousness of God on the same basis as the Gentiles, and that is, through faith in Jesus Christ.
vv. 23-24
Man’s situation is characterized by his disobedience to God. By that disobedience he came short of the glory of God.
He is exonerated without any compensatory action on his part. Rather, he is declared righteous as a gift through God’s grace extended to him. Such a situation came about by Christ’s substitutionary death on behalf of sinners.
The righteousness is complete and we do not have to add to it by our works. We are to constantly remember the sacrifice of Christ on our behalf. Whilst it cost us nothing, Jesus had to suffer shame, sorrow, suffering and death on our behalf.
c.
v. 25
How is God’s own righteousness demonstrated?
Paul says that God purposed that Christ should be the sacrifice by which the wrath of God against sin should be appeased.
However, Christ is a propitiation for a person only when he has the faith that Christ shed His blood for him.
In Christ’s sacrifice, evidence is then provided of God’s righteousness in not inflicting immediate punishment on sins in the time before the death of Christ.
v. 26
In the same instance, evidence is provided of God’s righteousness in the present time.
In this instance, God is shown just when He justifies the one who has faith in Jesus.
God in His holiness cannot just forgive sins. Christ had to shed His blood as our representative.
In our response, we remember what Paul says in 1 Corinthians 6: 19b-20a:
‘you are not your own, for you have been bought with a price’.
Romans 12: 1-2 says:
Therefore I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
Christ has redeemed us and we belong to Him. We are to live for Him. The greater the faith we exercise in accepting God’s will for us, the greater is the fruit we reap.
vv. 27-31
2. Comparison of this righteousness with that from the Law
a. It is a justification that comes by faith apart from the works of the Law; boasting is excluded;
b. it is available for both Jews and Gentiles;
c. the Law is not nullified but rather established.
a.
v. 27
It is a justification that comes by faith.
Having presented the ‘righteousness of God that has now been made known’, Paul again discounts the Judaistic idea of ‘a person being justified by the works of the Law.
No one by his or her own efforts can obtain justification. Paul says there is no place for boasting in obtaining the ‘righteousness of God’.
It can only be obtained ‘by faith’.
v. 28
Paul established in Romans 2 that having the Law and being circumcised do not justify the Jew who does not do the Law.
On the other hand, justification can be obtained by the Gentiles apart from having the Law and being circumcised.
Here he reveals that it is faith that enables the Jews and the Gentiles to be justified.
In Romans 4, Paul subsequently demonstrates from Scriptures the truth he states here.
We begin the Christian life by faith. We continue and grow in it by faith. Psalm 12: 6 says:
The words of the Lord are pure words
Like silver refined in a furnace on the ground filtered seven times.
The truth embodied in God’s word are for us to grasp and live by them. Even though there may be stumbling along the way, faith enables us to get up and carry on.
b.
v. 29
It is a righteousness available for both Jews and Gentiles.
v. 30
Paul states here that God is not only of the Jews but also of the Gentiles.
Paul had already said, ‘all have sinned.’
Both Jews and Gentiles are to be justified by faith.
It is the one God who justifies them.
The probable point of concern would be that of circumcision.
This point would also be elaborated in Romans 4 when he points to Abraham as being declared righteous when he was uncircumcised.
c.
v. 31
The Law is not nullified but established.
As justification is by faith and not by the works of the Law, then does this nullify the Law.
The Law is divine.
It instructs man on what is good.
Does the gospel do away with the Law?
Paul again speaks the idea of ‘don’t even think of it’.
He emphasizes that the Law is being established.
This he would go on to show in Romans 6 when he speaks of those under the Law as dying to sin and living to God. He says the one under grace would do the Law leading to eternal life.
In Romans 7, he identifies ‘sin’ in man that makes man unable to keep the Law. The problem is not with the Law but with ‘sin’ in man.
In Romans 8, he speaks of the one in Christ who walks according to the Spirit and in this way, fulfill the requirements of the Law.
Salvation enables us to do the Law.
Conclusion
In this section, verses 21-31, we see Paul proclaims that the righteousness from God is apart from the Law. It is for both Jews and Gentiles. It is obtained by faith in Jesus Christ.