← Back to Romans

भाष्य सध्या फक्त इंग्रजीत उपलब्ध आहे. मराठी भाषांतर प्रगतीपथावर आहे.

Pauline Epistles · Romans

Romans 3 — Being Justified Freely By His Grace Through the Redemption That Is In Christ Jesus

Summary

What advantage then hath the Jew? Much every way; chiefly because unto them were committed the oracles of God. Are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin. There is none righteous, no, not one. By the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight. But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested. Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe. Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood. Where is boasting then? It is excluded.

Key verse

“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:”

— Romans 3:23-24

Outline
  1. v.1-8 God's faithfulness despite Israel's unfaithfulness
  2. v.9-20 All under sin
  3. v.21-31 Righteousness through faith in Christ
Verse-by-verse
10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:

The universal verdict from a catena of Old Testament texts. The diagnosis is total — none righteous. The exceptions do not exist.

A cure for self-righteousness. If you imagine yourself among the righteous, the verse extends the exam to you. No, not one.

23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

The universal indictment. All have sinned. The chapter's argument is summed in seven words.

Come short of the glory of God. The measure is not human virtue but divine glory. By that standard everyone fails.

24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

Justified freely by his grace. Three qualifiers. Justified — declared righteous. Freely — without cost to the one justified. By his grace — the basis is God's unmerited favor.

Through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. The means. The cost was paid by Christ; the believer receives the deliverance.

25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;

Propitiation. The turning-aside of wrath through a substitute sacrifice. The cross satisfied God's righteous demand against sin.

Through faith in his blood. The benefits of the cross are received by faith. The blood is the basis; faith is the channel.

Cross-references 1 John 2:2 · 1 John 4:10 · Hebrews 9:22 · Leviticus 17:11
Key doctrines
The Universal Sin of Humanity
Romans 3:10, 23 · Psalm 14:1-3 · 1 John 1:8
Free Justification by Grace
Romans 3:24 · Ephesians 2:8-9 · Titus 3:7
Christ as Propitiation
Romans 3:25 · 1 John 2:2 · Hebrews 9:22
Boasting Excluded
Romans 3:27 · Ephesians 2:9 · 1 Corinthians 1:29
Application

Verse 24 is the heart of the gospel. Three small words — justified freely by his grace. If you have been adding works to faith for your justification, the chapter strips them off. The verdict is declared, free, by His grace alone. Receive it and walk in it.

Christ in this chapter

Romans 3 announces the only solution to the diagnosis of chapters 1-2. Justification is through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. The cross is the propitiation; the blood is the basis; faith is the channel. Every verse here is Christ as the answer to humanity's problem.

← Romans 2 Chapter 3 of 16 Romans 4 →