Romans 3:19-31

New Testament for Everyone

¹⁹ Now we know that whatever the law says, it is speaking to those who are “in the law.” The purpose of this is that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be brought to the bar of God’s judgment. ²⁰ No mere mortal, you see, can be declared to be in the right before God on the basis of the works of the law. What you get through the law is the knowledge of sin.

The unveiling of God’s covenant justice

²¹ But now, quite apart from the law (though the law and the prophets bore witness to it), God’s covenant justice has been displayed. ²² God’s covenant justice comes into operation through the faithfulness of Jesus the Messiah, for the benefit of all who have faith. For there is no distinction: ²³ all sinned, and fell short of God’s glory— ²⁴ and by God’s grace they are freely declared to be in the right, to be members of the covenant, through the redemption which is found in the Messiah, Jesus.

Jesus’ death reveals God’s covenant justice

²⁵ God put Jesus forth as the place of mercy, through faithfulness, by means of his blood. He did this to demonstrate his covenant justice, because of the passing over (in divine forbearance) of sins committed beforehand. ²⁶ This was to demonstrate his covenant justice in the present time: that is, that he himself is in the right, and that he declares to be in the right everyone who trusts in the faithfulness of Jesus.

The God of both Jew and Gentile

²⁷ So what happens to boasting? It is ruled out! Through what sort of law? The law of works? No: through the law of faith! ²⁸ We calculate, you see, that a person is declared to be in the right on the basis of faith, apart from works of the law. ²⁹ Or does God belong only to Jews? Doesn’t he belong to the nations as well? Yes, of course, to the nations as well, ³⁰ since God is one. He will make the declaration “in the right” over the circumcised on the basis of faith, and over the uncircumcised through faith.

³¹ Do we then abolish the law through faith? Certainly not! Rather, we establish the law.