Romans 3:21–31 – The Righteousness of God Through Faith
📖 Passage
Romans 3:21–31
Read Romans 3:21–31 (NKJV)
🧠 Context & Background
Romans 3:21–31 marks the turning point of Paul’s argument and is often considered the very heart of the gospel. After demonstrating in 1:18–3:20 that all humanity—Jew and Gentile alike—is guilty and incapable of achieving righteousness by the Law, Paul now announces the good news: “But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law.” This righteousness is not earned by works but is a gift received through faith in Jesus Christ. For Jewish readers, this was revolutionary. The Law and the Prophets had testified to God’s righteousness, but now it is fully revealed in Christ, who is the fulfillment of the Old Testament promises. For Gentiles, it meant that salvation was not restricted to those within Israel’s covenant but extended to all who believe. At the center of Paul’s message is the cross: God put forth Christ as a propitiation—an atoning sacrifice—by His blood. In this act, God’s justice and mercy meet perfectly. His justice is upheld, because sin is punished, yet His mercy is revealed, because sinners are justified freely by His grace. This section also resolves a cultural tension: Jews often relied on the Law and circumcision as badges of righteousness, while Gentiles relied on philosophy or moral achievement. Paul removes all boasting, declaring that salvation is by faith alone, apart from works of the Law, so that God alone receives glory. In the end, God is shown to be “just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus” (3:26), and the way of salvation is revealed to be the same for both Jew and Gentile.
🌿 Key Themes
- Righteousness apart from law — God’s righteousness is revealed in Christ, independent of human law-keeping.
- Justification by faith — Sinners are declared righteous by faith, not by works.
- God’s justice and mercy — The cross upholds God’s holiness while saving sinners.
- No boasting — Salvation excludes pride, boasting, or reliance on self.
📖 Verse-by-Verse Commentary
Romans 3:23 — All Have Sinned
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…”
- This universal statement levels every person under sin.
- To “fall short” means humanity continually misses God’s standard of holiness.
- God’s glory is the measure, and every human being fails to meet it.
Romans 3:24 — Justified by Grace Alone
“And are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus…”
- Justification is an act of God’s grace, not man’s merit.
- It is a “gift”—undeserved, freely given.
- Redemption echoes the language of slavery; Christ purchased freedom through His blood (cf. Ephesians 1:7).
Romans 3:25 — Christ as Propitiation
“Whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins.”
- God publicly displayed Christ as “a propitiation” (atoning sacrifice), satisfying His wrath.
- The cross demonstrates both God’s justice and His mercy.
- Former sins were “passed over” in God’s forbearance until the cross provided full payment.
Romans 3:26 — God Just and Justifier
“It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.”
- At the cross, God’s justice and mercy meet perfectly.
- He remains just (sin punished) and the justifier (sinners declared righteous) through Christ.
- Faith in Jesus is the only means of receiving this righteousness.
Romans 3:27 — Boasting Excluded
“Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith.”
- The gospel leaves no room for human pride—boasting is excluded.
- Justification is not achieved by works but by faith.
- Faith is the “law” that governs God’s new covenant people.
Romans 3:28 — Justification by Faith Alone
“For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.”
- This is Paul’s clearest statement of justification by faith alone.
- Works of the Law cannot save; only faith unites a sinner to Christ.
- This doctrine shattered Jewish reliance on Law and circumcision as badges of righteousness.
Romans 3:29 — God of All Nations
“Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also…”
- Paul affirms the universality of salvation: God is the God of all nations.
- The gospel erases ethnic boundaries—Jew and Gentile are equal before God.
Romans 3:30 — One God, One Way of Salvation
“Since God is one—who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith.”
- God’s unity ensures one way of salvation for all.
- Both circumcised (Jews) and uncircumcised (Gentiles) are justified only by faith.
Romans 3:31 — Faith Upholds the Law
“Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law.”
- Paul anticipates the objection that justification by faith makes the Law worthless.
- Instead, faith upholds the Law, since the Law’s true purpose was to point to Christ.
- The gospel fulfills the Law by showing its role in exposing sin and leading to grace.
🔍 Trusted Insight
Charles Spurgeon:
“When God justifies a sinner, He does not relax His justice, but displays it. Justice and mercy are both seen at the cross, where God is just, and yet the justifier of him who believes in Jesus.”
🧩 Review Questions
- Why does Paul stress that righteousness comes apart from the law?
- How does the universality of sin highlight the necessity of grace?
- What does it mean that God is both “just and the justifier”?
- Why does justification by faith exclude boasting? 💡 Tip: Use the **Ask a Question Bot** to explore these questions more deeply and gain additional biblical insights. ---
🌎 Worldviews
Biblical worldview (Romans 3:21–31) — God’s righteousness is revealed apart from the law, though testified by it. Justification is a gift of grace through faith in Christ’s redeeming blood. God remains just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. Boasting is excluded because salvation rests on grace, not works.
Today’s worldview
- “Good works save me” — Many believe moral effort, charity, or religious practice earns righteousness. Paul insists righteousness is apart from the law (Romans 3:21) and cannot be achieved by works.
- “Truth is relative, and sincerity is enough” — Culture says any sincere faith is valid. Paul proclaims justification is through faith in Jesus Christ alone (Romans 3:22).
- “God should just forgive without judgment” — People imagine love means overlooking sin. Paul shows God is both just (punishing sin at the cross) and justifier (forgiving sinners through Christ) (Romans 3:26).
- “Religion is about pride or identity” — Some boast in heritage, denomination, or self-made spirituality. Paul says all boasting is excluded (Romans 3:27).
- “Different paths for different people” — Modern pluralism teaches many ways to God. Paul insists there is one God who justifies both Jew and Gentile by the same faith (Romans 3:29–30).
🙋 Application Questions
- In what ways do I still rely on “works” to feel accepted by God?
- How does knowing justification is a gift change my view of sin and grace?
- How does the cross strengthen my assurance of salvation today?
🔤 Greek Keywords
- Dikaiosynē (δικαιοσύνη) — righteousness, God’s gift to believers.
- Hilastērion (ἱλαστήριον) — propitiation, the atoning sacrifice.
- Lytrosis (λύτρωσις) — redemption, ransom paid for freedom.
📚 Cross References
- Isaiah 53:5 — The suffering servant bears our sins.
- Habakkuk 2:4 — The just shall live by faith.
- Galatians 2:16 — Justified by faith in Christ, not law.
- Ephesians 2:8–9 — Salvation by grace, not works.
- 2 Corinthians 5:21 — Christ made sin for us, that we might be righteous.
📦 Next Study
Next Study → Romans 4:1–12
Adapted from John Calvin’s Commentary on Romans 3:21–31.