The Verdict and the Turn
Romans 3 holds the darkest sentence in the letter and one of the brightest. There is none righteous, no, not one. Then, eleven verses later: But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested.
Paul has brought charges against the pagan world (Romans 1:18–32) and against the moral and religious (Romans 2:1–29). In chapter 3 he answers the objections a Jewish hearer would raise, calls his witnesses from the Old Testament, and closes the case: all the world is guilty before God. That ends the first movement of the letter, Guilty. Then the letter turns to the second, Justified. In six verses at the heart of Romans, Paul explains how a just God can declare guilty people righteous, and then he draws the conclusions.
- 3:1-8. Objections answered: Israel's advantage, and God's faithfulness.
- 3:9-20. The verdict: Jews and Gentiles alike are under sin.
- 3:21-26. The turn: righteousness from God through faith in Christ's blood.
- 3:27-31. The results: no boasting, one way for all, and the law established.
To declare righteous, as a judge pronounces a verdict. It is the opposite of to condemn (Deuteronomy 25:1). In Romans, God justifies the one who believes in Jesus (Romans 3:26). See Justification.
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For Deeper Study
- The Apostolic Preaching of the CrossAmazon Leon MorrisAn evangelical Anglican scholar's classic study of the Bible's words for the cross, including redemption, propitiation, and justification. His answer to C. H. Dodd on propitiation is here.
- The Cross of ChristAmazon John StottAn evangelical Anglican classic on why Christ died, with a careful treatment of Romans 3:21-26 and of how God is both just and the justifier.
- The Epistle to the RomansAmazon John MurrayA careful commentary by a Reformed Presbyterian theologian, strong on 3:21-26. We differ with him on election and on the imputation of Adam's guilt.
- The Faith of Jesus Christ: Exegetical, Biblical, and Theological StudiesAmazon Michael F. Bird and Preston M. Sprinkle, eds.Scholars on several sides of the debate over “the faith of Jesus Christ” make their cases. For advanced students.
- Foxe's Book of MartyrsAmazon John FoxeThe classic Protestant record of those who died for the faith, from the early church to the English Reformation.
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Romans
Romans is Paul's fullest explanation of the Gospel: every person is guilty, God declares believing sinners righteous through Christ's blood, the Spirit gives power for a new life, God keeps His promises to Israel, and the saved live as worshiping, serving people.
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