(4) The righteousness of God, manifested in Christ and apprehended by faith, is the sole remedy, and available for all. The position enunciated in Romans 1:18 being now sufficiently established, the apostle enters here on his main argument, announced in Romans 1:17 . read more
Justification through faith in Christ. The design of the Law, to intensify our sense of sin, having been made plain, the apostle, in the present paragraph, proceeds to show where justification comes from. It does not come from the Law; for the Law can only give us condemnation. It comes from a source foretold in "the Law and the prophets"—from Jesus Christ, our Propitiation. And more than justification, as we shall now see, proceeds from this marvellous source. Three leading thoughts... read more
Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: whom God set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood. δικαιούμενοι agrees with πάντες in Romans 3:23 . "Repente sic panditur scena amaenior" (Bengel). δωρεὰν and τῆ αὐτοῦ χάριτι are opposed to the impossible theory of justification by law . And, as all sinned, so all are so justified potentially, the redemption being for all; cf. especially Romans 5:18 . But ... read more
Where then is the boasting? (that of the Jew, referred to in Romans 2:1-29 ., of his superiority to the Gentile with regard to justification). It is excluded. By what manner of ( ποίου ) law? Of works? Nay, but by the law of faith. Is it, then, here implied that the law of works would allow of boasting? Not so practically. But its theory would leave room for it, on the supposition of its conditions being fulfilled; it is a kind of law (observe ποίου νόμου ;) which does not... read more
"Where is the glorying?" The Jews were a glorying people; they gloried in God (see Romans 2:17 ), and they gloried in the Law ( Romans 2:23 ). But now? All glorying was shut out. I. THE FALSE GLORYING . Man's almost universal perversion of religion. Religion should humble him, but he makes it the occasion of boasting. So eminently with the Jews. 1. In the Law. The Law was designed to teach sin, and quicken their longings for holiness. It had become an apparatus of... read more
At this time - The time now since the Saviour has come, now is the time when he manifests it.That he might be just - This verse contains the substance of the gospel. The word “just” here does not mean benevolent, or merciful, though it may sometimes have that meaning; see the Matthew 1:19 note, also John 17:25 note. But it refers to the fact that God had retained the integrity of his character as a moral governor; that he had shown a due regard to his Law, and to the penalty of the Law by his... read more
Where is boasting then? - Where is there ground or occasion of boasting or pride? Since all have sinned, and since all have failed of being able to justify themselves by obeying the Law, and since all are alike dependent on the mere mercy of God in Christ, all ground of boasting is of course taken away. This refers particularly to the Jews, who were much addicted to boasting of their special privileges; See the note at Romans 3:1, etc.By what law? - The word “law “here is used in the sense of... read more
Romans 3:25-26. Whom God hath set forth Before angels and men: hath in his infinite mercy exhibited to us in the gospel, to be a propitiation Greek, ιλαστηριον , a propitiatory, or mercy-seat, where mercy may be found by the penitent, in a way consistent with divine justice. The reader will observe, the cover of the ark, in the tabernacle and temple of the Israelites, was called the mercy-seat, or propitiatory, and is termed by the LXX., Exodus 25:17, ιλαστηριον επιθεμα , a... read more
Romans 3:27. Where is boasting then? The boasting of the Gentiles in their philosophy, or of the Jews in the rites of the law of Moses, as sufficient for their salvation. Or the boasting of the Jews against the Gentiles, or that of any one in his own righteousness, or on account of any peculiar privileges he may enjoy. It is excluded This way of justification by free grace, through faith, leaves no room to any one for boasting of what he is, or has, or does, or can do. By what law? Of... read more
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The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 3:21-26
Redemption working righteousness. A whole system of theology is compacted into these few words. The keystone of the arch. We have here—redemption; righteousness. I. REDEMPTION . The redemption centres in Christ; it touches on either side God and man. Originating in the purposes of God, and actualized in the work of Christ, it is appropriated in the consciousness of man. These verses deal with one aspect of Christ's work and of man's salvation—justification through Christ's atoning... read more