1. Fervent In Spirit Serving The Lord
Righteousness through Faith for Salvation
Romans 3:21-31
Compiled by:
Dr. William Ebert

2. Brief statement of the plan of Salvation: Justification by Faith — Romans 3:21-31
Introduction to Romans 3:21-31
All human beings have equal access to God's righteousness through faith 3:21-23.
An intimate look at the Manner in which the Righteousness of God has been revealed 3:24-25a
God is just and the justifier of those who believe 3:25b-26
Are we justified by works or by Faith? 3:27-31

3. I. Introduction
Romans 1:18-3:20 is preliminary to the main point Paul wants to establish in this part of his letter: the availability of God's righteousness to all who respond in faith. This "good news" announced in 1:17, in now elaborated.
The passage is loaded with key theological terms, the phrase "righteousness of God" stands out by virtue of its frequency.
It occurs four times vv. 21,22, 25, 26
"His righteousness" the last two.

4. I. Introduction
The related verb "justify" is found four time (vv. 24, 26, 28, 30).
The adjective "just" once (v. 26)

5. I. Introduction
Paul now returns to the revelation of God's righteousness. (cf. 1:17)
"But now" —indicates the transition to a new phase of his exposition of the gospel.
Used in 6:22; 7:6; 1 Cor. 15:20; Eph 2:13 and Col 1:22.
Indicated the transition from the old era of sin's domination to the new era of salvation.
The transition took effect in history at the cross and in the life of individuals at conversion.

6. I. Introduction
"The righteousness of God" —dominates the now, it means the same here as in Rom 1:17–the justifying activity of God.
God’s intervention to vindicate and deliver His people
On the human side it includes the status of acquittal acquired by the person so declared just.
"Has been made known"—The focus of attention is on the cross.

7. The Righteousness of God has been revealed — apart from the law v. 21
All human beings have equal access to God's righteousness through faith 3:21-23.
The Righteousness of God has been revealed — apart from the law v. 21
The Righteousness of God has been revealed — Witnessed by the law and the prophets v.21
"The law and the prophets" —reflects a customary division of the OT into the Pentateuch and "everything else"–the entire OT is included.

8. All human beings have equal access to God's righteousness through faith 3:21-23.
The Righteousness of God has been revealed — Through Faith in Christ Jesus v.22
"The righteousness of God" — is now considered form the human side of the transaction.
"By faith" —Another theme picked up from 1:17
Paul highlights faith as the means by which God's justifying work becomes applicable to individuals.
We see the consistent use of "faith" throughout 3:21-4:25 to designate the faith exercised by people in God or Christ as the sole means of justification.

9. The Righteousness of God has been revealed — To all who believe v.22
All human beings have equal access to God's righteousness through faith 3:21-23.
The Righteousness of God has been revealed — To all who believe v.22
"Upon all them that believe"—is probably used to highlight the universal availability of God's righteousness.
This is one of the most visible motifs of the epistle.

10. The Righteousness of God has been revealed — To all who believe v.22
All human beings have equal access to God's righteousness through faith 3:21-23.
The Righteousness of God has been revealed — To all who believe v.22
God's righteousness is available only through faith in Christ, but it is available to anyone who has faith in Christ.
"There is no difference"—summarizes a key element of Paul's presentation in 1:18-3:20 and is likely to have a special application to Jew and Gentile.

11. All human beings have equal access to God's righteousness through faith 3:21-23.
The Righteousness of God has been revealed — Because of man’s sinfulness v.23
1. "Sinned"
This may be a "summary", gathering up the sins of people throughout the past into a single moment,

12. All human beings have equal access to God's righteousness through faith 3:21-23.
But in light of Rom 5:12, it could also be "historical", referring to the sinning of all people in Adam. — Romans 5:12
Romans 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

13. All human beings have equal access to God's righteousness through faith 3:21-23.
The Righteousness of God has been revealed — Because of man’s sinfulness v.23
"And come short" —indicates the consequences of the universal sinning, "to lack" or "come short of [something]."
"Glory of God"—His "weighty" and magnificent "presence", The perfect state that we see in Adam and Eve before the fall.

14. A. Justified freely & by His Grace
An intimate look at the Manner in which the Righteousness of God has been revealed 3:24-25a — the gracious provision of Christ as an atoning sacrifice.
A. Justified freely & by His Grace
"Being justified" —is used here for the first time in Romans of justification in the Christian sense. It means "to declare righteous," to be acquitted by God form all charges that could be brought against a person because of his sins.
"Freely by his grace" —indicates the mode of justification as entirely free and unmerited.

15. B. Justified by the redemption that is in Christ Jesus
An intimate look at the Manner in which the Righteousness of God has been revealed 3:24-25a
B. Justified by the redemption that is in Christ Jesus
"Through the redemption" —illumines the costly means by which this acquitting verdict is rendered possible.
"Redemption" —has the root significance of a "liberation through payment of a price," that price being the "ransom."
"That is in Christ Jesus" —indicates that this "liberation by payment was paid at the cross in the blood of Christ, the redeeming work is applied to each person when he or she believes.

16. C. Justified by Christ Jesus who is a propitiation.
An intimate look at the Manner in which the Righteousness of God has been revealed 3:24-25a.
C. Justified by Christ Jesus who is a propitiation.
The focus shifts from man's reception of God's justifying work to God's initiative in providing for it; at the will and initiative of God the Father.
"Propitiation"—includes reference to the turning away of God's wrath.
God's wrath is the inevitable and necessary reaction of absolute holiness to sin.
God Himself initiates the propitiatory offering.

17. C. Justified by Christ Jesus who is a propitiation.
An intimate look at the Manner in which the Righteousness of God has been revealed 3:24-25a.
C. Justified by Christ Jesus who is a propitiation.
"Through faith"—modifies Propitiation, and indicates the means by which individuals appropriate the benefits of the sacrifice.
"In his blood"—a further modifier of Propitiation –"a propitiation in blood”. The “in” is singling out Christ's blood as the means by which God's wrath is propitiated.

18. God is just and the justifier of those who believe 3:25b-26
How the atonement not only provides for the justification of sinners but also demonstrates the "just-ness" of God throughout the process.

19. God is just and the justifier of those who believe 3:25b-26
In the time period before the crucifixion and resurrection
Why God was just in passing over the sins in the past —God postponed the full penalty due sins in the Old Covenant, allowing sinner to stand before Him without their having provided an adequate satisfaction of the demands of His holy justice.
God showed his forbearance, tolerance

20. God is just and the justifier of those who believe 3:25b-26
In this new age, looking back at the crucifixion and resurrection
"That he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.— goes with the immediately preceding clause—"in order to demonstrate His righteousness at the present time, in the sense that He is just and the Justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

21. God is just and the justifier of those who believe 3:25b-26
The clause beginning "To declare" in v. 25 and the one beginning "To declare" in v. 26 are parallel modifiers of "Hath set forth".
The former focusing on how the propitiatory sacrifice of Christ enabled God to maintain His righteous character in postponing punishment of sins in the past.
The second one shows how this same sacrifice preserved God's righteous character as He justifies now those who, place their faith in Jesus.

22. God is just and the justifier of those who believe 3:25b-26
"The justifier" –"just even in justifying"; Paul's point is that God can maintain His righteous character (His Righteousness vv. 25, 26) even while he acts to justify sinful people (Righteousness of God in vv. 21, 22) because Christ, in His propitiatory sacrifice, provides full satisfaction of the demands of God's impartial, unchanging justice.
"Which believeth in Jesus" —designates the person who has faith in Jesus.

23. Are we justified by works or by Faith? 3:27-31
There is no boasting vs. 27
"A man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law"—no works, no matter what kind, or of what motivation, can play any part in making a sinner right with God.
Man is justified by faith alone v. 28

24. Are we justified by works or by Faith? 3:27-31
All men are Justified the same way v
1. Is God the God of the Jews & Gentiles?
2. There is only one God who will justify by faith
Paul's contention is that the oneness of God requires that God be God of the Gentiles as much as of the Jews; otherwise, the Gentiles would be left with no God. In arguing in this manner, Paul takes one of the most basic Jewish beliefs, monotheism, and turns it against Judaism.
All must have equal access to God, and this can be guaranteed only if faith, not works in obedience to the Jewish law, is made the entrance requirement.

25. Are we justified by works or by Faith? 3:27-31
D. Is the law therefore of no value
Has it been done away with?
No it has been established — Through Christ in us (8:3-4)

26. Are we justified by works or by Faith? 3:27-31
3. Faith does not nullify but establishes the law v. 31
Paul affirms a continuing role for the law, despite its playing no part in justification, is clear.
"Establish the law" —The stress on faith as establishing the law suggests that it is law as fulfilled in and through our faith in Christ that Paul thinks of here (cf. 8:3-4).

27. Are we justified by works or by Faith? 3:27-31
Romans 8:3-4 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: 4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

28. Are we justified by works or by Faith? 3:27-31
E. Conclusion about the Law:
Looking at the Ten Commandments
They are not a list of rules to be kept
They are a picture of ones nature, a life to be lived
J. A. Motyer comments on the nature of the law given in Exodus chapter 20 by saying that the law is that which is because God is who he is.

29. Are we justified by works or by Faith? 5:27-31
The law comes out as a reflection of the divine nature and it is designed to make God's people into his own image.
It shows them how they are to live in the likeness of their God.
There are two images of God on earth says Motyer:
1) One is the image of God in Man
2) The other is the image of God in the law of God.

30. Are we justified by works or by Faith? 3:27-31
If a man is to manifest the image of God then his life must be deliberately patterned after the law of God.

31. Theological Themes found in
Romans 3:21-21
1. Righteousness of God
2. By faith
3. Upon all who believe
4. There is no difference between men
5. All are sinners
6. Glory of God