Romans 3:22

God’s righteousness becomes man’s possession and begins to operate in his life through faith in Jesus Christ (Romans 3:28; cf. Galatians 2:16; Mark 11:22). Though pistis, "faith," can also mean "faithfulness," Paul almost always meant "faith" when he used this word. Strong contextual clues indicate when he meant "faithfulness."

Here Paul introduced the object of faith for the first time (cf. Romans 1:16-17). He never said that people obtain salvation because of their faith in Christ, by the way. This would encourage the idea that our faith makes a contribution to our salvation and has some merit. Faith simply takes what God gives. It adds nothing to the gift.

"Faith . . . plays a double part in justification. It is the disposition which God accepts, and which He imputes as righteousness; and it is at the same time the instrument whereby every one may appropriate for his own personal advantage this righteousness of faith." [Note: Godet, p. 147. Cf. Newell, p. 108.]

Several writers have described faith as the hand of the heart. It does no work to earn salvation but only accepts a gift that someone else provides.

"The righteousness of God is not put ’upon’ any one. That is a Romish idea,-still held, alas, among Protestants who cannot escape the conception of righteousness as a something bestowed upon us, rather than a Divine reckoning about us." [Note: Ibid., p. 110.]

There is no distinction between Jews and Gentiles concerning their being "under sin" (Romans 3:9). Likewise there is no distinction regarding the manner by which Jews and Gentiles obtain salvation. All receive salvation by faith.