Read & explore together
Righteousness through Faith in Christ
Romans 3:21–31 explains how God’s righteousness is revealed through Jesus Christ. The passage moves from humanity’s shared sin to God’s gracious action, then shows what faith means for boasting, Jews, Gentiles, and the law.
Understanding the passage
The setting of these words
This is teaching from a letter. It speaks about a righteousness of God revealed apart from the law, while also being testified by the law and the prophets. It connects this righteousness with faith in Jesus Christ, God’s grace, and one way of justification for Jews and Gentiles.
Romans 3:21–31Main takeaway
God’s righteousness is revealed through faith in Jesus Christ, so boasting is excluded and both Jews and Gentiles are justified through faith.
Follow the letter’s teaching
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01Righteousness revealed for all who believeThese verses say a righteousness of God has now been revealed apart from the law, though the law and the prophets testify to it.
Explanation
These verses say a righteousness of God has now been revealed apart from the law, though the law and the prophets testify to it. This righteousness of God is through faith in Jesus Christ to all and on all those who believe. The passage immediately adds that there is no distinction.
02All have sinned, yet God acts freely by graceThe reason there is no distinction is that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
Explanation
The reason there is no distinction is that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Yet the passage also says people are justified freely by God’s grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. The stress falls on God’s gracious action, not human achievement.
03God demonstrates his righteousness in ChristGod sent Christ Jesus to be an atoning sacrifice through faith in his blood. The passage says this demonstrates God’s righteousness, mentioning the passing over of prior sins in God’s forbearance.
Explanation
God sent Christ Jesus to be an atoning sacrifice through faith in his blood. The passage says this demonstrates God’s righteousness, mentioning the passing over of prior sins in God’s forbearance. At the present time, God shows himself to be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
04Faith excludes boasting and includes Jews and GentilesBoasting is excluded, not by works of the law but by a law of faith. These verses state that a person is justified by faith apart from works of the law.
Explanation
Boasting is excluded, not by works of the law but by a law of faith. These verses state that a person is justified by faith apart from works of the law. Because God is one, he justifies both the circumcised and the uncircumcised through faith, and faith does not nullify the law but establishes it.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What does the passage say has been revealed, and how is it received?
Look for the repeated phrase “righteousness of God” and the words about faith in Jesus Christ and those who believe.
02Why does the passage say there is no distinction between people here?
Trace the link between “all have sinned” and the statement that people are justified freely by God’s grace.
03How does the ending connect faith, boasting, Jews and Gentiles, and the law?
Notice the sequence: boasting is excluded, justification is by faith, God is God of Jews and Gentiles, and faith does not nullify the law.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Romans 3:21–31
21But now apart from the law, a righteousness of God has been revealed, being testified by the law and the prophets;
22even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ to all and on all those who believe. For there is no distinction,
23for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God;
24being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,
25whom God sent to be an atoning sacrifice through faith in his blood, for a demonstration of his righteousness through the passing over of prior sins, in God’s forbearance;
26to demonstrate his righteousness at this present time, that he might himself be just and the justifier of him who has faith in Jesus.
27Where then is the boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith.
28We maintain therefore that a man is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.
29Or is God the God of Jews only? Isn’t he the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also,
30since indeed there is one God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith.
31Do we then nullify the law through faith? May it never be! No, we establish the law.