Minnetonka

Monday
Evening
Bible Study
The Apostle
Paul’s Letter to
the Romans
 Romans 3:21-31
The Ground of Justification:
Jesus Christ’s Faithfulness
 Romans 3:21-31
• The Ground of Justification:
Jesus Christ’s Faithfulness (3:21-
31).
– Jesus Christ’s Faithfulness—The
Justification of God (3:21-26).
– Jesus Christ’s Faithfulness—The
Justification of the Law (3:27-31).
 Romans 3:21-31; NIV

21But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made
known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22This righteousness
from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is
no difference, 23for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24and
are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by
Christ Jesus. 25God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through
faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his
forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— 26he
did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and
the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.

27Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. On what principle? On that of

observing the law? No, but on that of faith. 28For we maintain that a man is
justified by faith apart from observing the law. 29Is God the God of Jews
only? Is he not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too, 30since there
is only one God, who will justify the circumcised by faith and the
uncircumcised through that same faith. 31Do we, then, nullify the law by
this faith? Not at all! Rather, we uphold the law.
 Romans 3:21-31; ESV

21But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the
law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— 22the
righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For
there is no distinction: 23for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of
God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption
that is in Christ Jesus, 25whom 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. 26It
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.

27Then 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. 28For we hold that one is
justified by faith apart from works of the law. 29Or is God the God of Jews
only? Is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, 30since God
is one—who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised
through faith. 31Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means!
On the contrary, we uphold the law.
 Romans 3:21-31; CPV
21But now apart from the Law God’s righteousness has been disclosed,
though being testified to by the Law and the Prophets, 22 even God’s
righteousness disclosed through Jesus Christ’s faithfulness unto all who
believe. 23 For there is no distinction, for all sinned and persist in falling
short of God’s glory, 24 being freely declared righteous by his grace through
the redemption which is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God publicly set forth as
propitiation through the faithfulness which is in his blood for the purpose of
demonstrating his righteousness because of God’s forbearance in passing
over sins that were previously committed, 26 for the demonstration of his
righteousness in the present time, that he might be both righteous and the
one who declares righteous the one who is of the faithfulness of Jesus.

27 Where then is boasting? It is excluded. Through what law? Is it excluded

through the law that requires deeds? No! It is excluded through the law of
faithfulness. 28 For we consider a man apart from deeds required by the law
to be declared righteous by faithfulness. 29 Or is God the God of the Jews
alone? Is he not the God of the Gentiles also? Yes, he is God of the Gentiles
also, 30 since God is one who will declare righteous the circumcised from
faithfulness and the one with the foreskin through the same faithfulness. 31
Therefore, do we nullify the law through this faithfulness? No way! Rather,
we establish the law.
 From Heaven
God Reveals His Wrath

Romans 1:18

God handed them over . . .

 From Heaven
God Reveals His Wrath

Romans 1:18

And we know that whatever the law says it says to

those who are under the law’s jurisdiction, in order
that every mouth may be stopped and all the world may
be liable to judgment by God. For from deeds required
by the law no flesh shall be declared righteous, for
through the law comes knowledge of sin.
Romans 3:19-20
 In the Gospel
God Reveals His Righteousness

Romans 1:16-17
 In the Gospel
God Reveals His Righteousness

t
Romans 1:16-17

Propi iation
But now God’s righteousness, though being testified
to by the law and the prophets, has been disclosed
apart from the law, namely God’s righteousness
disclosed through Jesus Christ’s faithfulness for
everyone who believes.
Romans 3:21-22
 God’s Righteousness
in Paul’s Letter to the Romans
• 1:17 God’s righteousness is revealed in the gospel.
• 3:5 If our unrighteousness brings out more vividly God’s righte-
ousness, what shall we say?
• 3:21, 22 But now apart from the Law God’s righteousness has been
disclosed, though being testified to by the Law and the Pro-
phets, even God’s righteousness disclosed through Jesus
Christ’s faithfulness unto all who believe.
• 3:25, 26 [Christ Jesus] whom God publicly set forth as propitiation
through the faithfulness which is in his blood for the purpose
of demonstrating his righteousness because of God’s for-
bearance in passing over sins that were previously com-
mitted, for the demonstration of his righteousness in the
present time, that he might be both righteous and the one
who declares righteous the one who is of the faithfulness of
Jesus.
• 10:3 For not acknowledging God’s righteousness, and seeking to
establish their own righteousness, they did not submit to
God’s righteousness.
 What is God’s Righteousness
in Paul’s Letter to the Romans?
God’s righteousness is God’s character.
• 1:17 God’s character as righteous is revealed in the gospel.
• 3:5 Israel’s unrighteous character brings out more vividly God’s
righteous character.
• 3:21, 22 Now apart from the Law God’s righteous character has been
disclosed, though being testified to by the Law and the Pro-
phets, even God’s righteous character disclosed through
Jesus Christ’s faithfulness unto all who believe.
• 3:25, 26 [Christ Jesus] whom God publicly set forth as propitiation
through the faithfulness which is in his blood for the purpose
of demonstrating his righteous character because of God’s
forbearance in passing over sins that were previously com-
mitted, for the demonstration of his righteous character in
the present time, that he might be both righteous and the one
who declares righteous the one who is of the faithfulness of
Jesus.
• 10:3 For not acknowledging God’s righteous character, and
seeking to establish their own righteous character, they did
not submit to God’s righteous character.
For there is no distinction, 23 for all have sinned
and fallen short of God’s glory, 24 and all are
being freely declared righteous by his grace
through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus,
25 whom God set forth publicly as propitiation

through the faithfulness which is in his blood for

the purpose of demonstrating his righteousness
because of God’s forbearance in passing over
sins that were previously committed, 26 for the
demonstration of his righteousness in the
present time, that he might be both righteous
and the one who declares righteous those who
are of the faithfulness of Jesus.
Romans 3:22c-26
 In the Gospel
God Reveals His Righteousness

t
Romans 1:16-17

Propi iation
[Christ Jesus] whom God set forth publicly as propitiation through
the faithfulness which is in his blood for the purpose of
demonstrating his righteousness because of God’s forbearance in
passing over sins that were previously committed, for the
demonstration of his righteousness in the present time, that he
might be both righteous and the one who declares righteous those
who are of the faithfulness of Jesus.
Romans 3:25-26
 How Does the Gospel Reveal
God’s Righteous Character?

How Can God Maintain His

Righteous Character when He
Justifies Humans Who are Sinful?

What is the coherent inner logic

of Paul’s argument in Romans
3:25-26?
 How Does the Gospel Reveal God’s
Righteous Character?
• God set forth his Son as propitiation (mercy seat)
for sin
• through the faithfulness that is in Christ’s death
• for the demonstration of his [God’s] righteous
character concerning sin with reference to two
time periods:
– the demonstration of his righteous character because of
his forbearance in passing over sins previously
committed
– the demonstration of his righteous character in the
present time
• that he [God] might simultaneously:
– remain righteous in his character, while being
– the one who declares righteous those who are of Jesus’
faithfulness.
Whose previously committed sins did
God pass over in forbearance?
Whose previously committed sins did
God propitiate in Jesus Christ’s death?
How does God show his righteousness?
Would God be righteous to inflict his
wrath a second time upon people for
whom Jesus Christ has already received
God’s wrath as their substitute?
 In what sense is Jesus Christ’s
substitutionary death effective?
• Is his death substitutionary?
• Is his substitutionary death sufficient to
redeem every person who has ever lived?
• Does his substitutionary death effectively
save every person who has ever lived?
• Who makes Christ’s substitutionary death
effective?
 Romans 3:21-31
• The Ground of Justification:
Jesus Christ’s Faithfulness (3:21-
31).
– Jesus Christ’s Faithfulness—The
Justification of God (3:21-26).
– Jesus Christ’s Faithfulness—The
Justification of the Law (3:27-31).
 Romans 3:27-31
How does Jesus Christ’s
Faithfulness ―Justify the
Law‖?
 Romans 3:21-31; CPV
21But now apart from the Law God’s righteousness has been disclosed,
though being testified to by the Law and the Prophets, 22 even God’s
righteousness disclosed through Jesus Christ’s faithfulness unto all who
believe. 23 For there is no distinction, for all sinned and persist in falling
short of God’s glory, 24 being freely declared righteous by his grace through
the redemption which is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God publicly set forth as
propitiation through the faithfulness which is in his blood for the purpose of
demonstrating his righteousness because of God’s forbearance in passing
over sins that were previously committed, 26 for the demonstration of his
righteousness in the present time, that he might be both righteous and the
one who declares righteous the one who is of the faithfulness of Jesus.

27 Where then is boasting? It is excluded. Through what law? Is it excluded

through the law that requires deeds? No! It is excluded through the law of
faithfulness. 28 For we consider a man apart from deeds required by the law
to be declared righteous by faithfulness. 29 Or is God the God of the Jews
alone? Is he not the God of the Gentiles also? Yes, he is God of the Gentiles
also, 30 since God is one who will declare righteous the circumcised from
faithfulness and the one with the foreskin through the same faithfulness. 31
Therefore, do we nullify the law through this faithfulness? No way! Rather,
we establish the law.
 Romans 3:21-31
• The revelation of God’s righteousness through
Christ’s faithfulness shuts out every suggestion
that there might be a special favored status
before God for being Jewish.
• God revealed his righteousness not by defeating
Rome and by giving Israel liberation but by
handing Israel’s Messiah over to Romans as the
great act of atonement required for both Israel
and Gentiles alike.
• How is boasting shut out? Through what law
– The law of deeds? No.
– The law of faithfulness. Why?
 Romans 3:28-31
Gentile • ―For we consider a human apart from deeds required by the
law to be declared righteous by faithfulness‖ (Romans 3:28).
Jew • ―We, who by nature are Jews and not sinners of the Gentiles
also know that no human who is of the deeds required by the
law is justified except through Jesus Christ’s faithfulness‖
(Galatians 2:15-16).
Paul’s reasoning that follows confirms that we are on target.
• Or is God the God of the Jews alone? Is he not the God of
the Gentiles also? Yes, he is God of the Gentiles also, since
God is one who will declare righteous the circumcised from
faithfulness and the one with the foreskin through the same
faithfulness. Therefore, do we nullify the law through this
faithfulness? No! Rather, we establish the law.