19 Now we know that whatever the law says,(A) it says to those who are under the law,(B) so that every mouth may be silenced(C) and the whole world held accountable to God.(D) 20 Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law;(E) rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin.(F)

Righteousness Through Faith

21 But now apart from the law the righteousness of God(G) has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify.(H) 22 This righteousness(I) is given through faith(J) in[a] Jesus Christ(K) to all who believe.(L) There is no difference between Jew and Gentile,(M) 23 for all have sinned(N) and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified(O) freely by his grace(P) through the redemption(Q) that came by Christ Jesus.

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Footnotes

  1. Romans 3:22 Or through the faithfulness of

19 Now we know that whatever (A)the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, (B)so that every mouth may be stopped, and (C)the whole world may be held accountable to God. 20 For (D)by works of the law no human being[a] will be justified in his sight, since (E)through the law comes knowledge of sin.

The Righteousness of God Through Faith

21 But now (F)the righteousness of God (G)has been manifested apart from the law, although (H)the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— 22 the righteousness of God (I)through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. (J)For there is no distinction: 23 for (K)all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 (L)and are justified (M)by his grace as a gift, (N)through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,

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Footnotes

  1. Romans 3:20 Greek flesh

19 Now we know that whatever (A)the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that (B)every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become [a]guilty before God. 20 Therefore (C)by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

God’s Righteousness Through Faith

21 But now (D)the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, (E)being witnessed by the Law (F)and the Prophets, 22 even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all [b]and on all who believe. For (G)there is no difference; 23 for (H)all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified [c]freely (I)by His grace (J)through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,

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Footnotes

  1. Romans 3:19 accountable
  2. Romans 3:22 NU omits and on all
  3. Romans 3:24 without any cost

We’re All in the Same Sinking Boat

9-20 So where does that put us? Do we Jews get a better break than the others? Not really. Basically, all of us, whether insiders or outsiders, start out in identical conditions, which is to say that we all start out as sinners. Scripture leaves no doubt about it:

There’s nobody living right, not even one,
    nobody who knows the score, nobody alert for God.
They’ve all taken the wrong turn;
    they’ve all wandered down blind alleys.
No one’s living right;
    I can’t find a single one.
Their throats are gaping graves,
    their tongues slick as mudslides.
Every word they speak is tinged with poison.
    They open their mouths and pollute the air.
They race for the honor of sinner-of-the-year,
    litter the land with heartbreak and ruin,
Don’t know the first thing about living with others.
    They never give God the time of day.

This makes it clear, doesn’t it, that whatever is written in these Scriptures is not what God says about others but to us to whom these Scriptures were addressed in the first place! And it’s clear enough, isn’t it, that we’re sinners, every one of us, in the same sinking boat with everybody else? Our involvement with God’s revelation doesn’t put us right with God. What it does is force us to face our complicity in everyone else’s sin.

God Has Set Things Right

21-24 But in our time something new has been added. What Moses and the prophets witnessed to all those years has happened. The God-setting-things-right that we read about has become Jesus-setting-things-right for us. And not only for us, but for everyone who believes in him. For there is no difference between us and them in this. Since we’ve compiled this long and sorry record as sinners (both us and them) and proved that we are utterly incapable of living the glorious lives God wills for us, God did it for us. Out of sheer generosity he put us in right standing with himself. A pure gift. He got us out of the mess we’re in and restored us to where he always wanted us to be. And he did it by means of Jesus Christ.

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