Romans 3:26-31

Righteousness Revealed in Justification – 3:21-5:21

Verse 26

For the demonstration of His righteousness at the present time – God’s character is always consistent. Jesus’ death demonstrated God’s righteous standards. Sin was paid for as justice demanded.

That He might be just and the justifier or the one who has faith in Jesus – Because sin was paid for by Jesus as God’s justice demanded He is able to declare sinners righteous when they put their faith in His Son.

Verses 21-26 show what faith alone in Christ alone includes.

Verses 27-31 show what faith alone in Christ alone excludes.

Paul does this by asking five rhetorical questions.

Verses 27-28

*Question 1 *- Where then is boasting? Answer – It is excluded.

*Question 2 *– By what kind of law? Answer – Not of works but faith.
Why? – Because we are justified by faith alone!

Verses 29-30

*Question 3 *– Is God the God of Jews only? “No” is the expected answer.

*Question 4 *– Is He not the God of the Gentiles also? Answer – Yes, of Gentiles also.

Why? – Because God is one! He does not have two ways of salvation. Salvation has always been by faith!

God who will justify…

The circumcised by faith

The uncircumcised through faith By (ek)- refers to origin or source. The Jew trusted a false source for God’s acceptance.

Through (dia) – refers to the means. Literally it is “that faith” in the Greek text. In other words the Jews are justified by faith that has its source in Christ and the Gentiles are justified through that same faith. The Gentiles had no presupposed source of Law or covenant for righteousness. Faith is always the same because its contents are Christ and His blood.

Verse 31

Question 5 – Do we nullify Law through faith? Answer – May it never be!

Why? – Faith establishes the true purpose of Law. Galatians 3:24, “…the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, that we may be justified by faith.”

Romans 6:15 – “Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? May it never be!”

Romans 7:7 – “…Is the Law sin? May it never be!….”

Romans 7:12 – “…the Law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good.”

Righteousness has always been by faith not law. Israel as a nation moved from faith to law because they misunderstood righteousness by faith.

Romans 9:30-33, “…Israel, pursuing a law of righteousness, did not arrive at that law. Why?Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as though it were by works. Thy stumbled over the stumbling stone, just as it is written, “Behold I lay in Zion a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense, and he who believes in Him will not be disappointed.”

Romans 10:3-4, “For not knowing about God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.”