Romans 3:26

This verse explains the significance of Jesus Christ’s death since the Cross. It demonstrates God’s righteousness, the subject of Romans, by showing that God is both just in His dealings with sin and the Justifier who provides righteous standing for the sinner. Note that it is only those who have faith in Jesus who stand justified.

Romans 3:21-26 constitute an excellent explanation of God’s imputation of righteousness to believing sinners by describing justification. These verses contain "God’s great statement of justification by faith." [Note: Newell, p. 92.] To summarize, God can declare sinners righteous because Jesus Christ has paid the penalty for their sins by dying in their place. His death satisfied God’s demands against sinners completely. Now God declares those who trust in Jesus Christ as their substitute righteous.

"Justification is the act of God whereby He declares the believing sinner righteous in Christ on the basis of the finished work of Christ on the cross." [Note: Wiersbe, 1:522.]

". . . the direct exposition of the righteousness by faith ends with the twenty-sixth verse. If the epistle had ended there it would not have been incomplete. All the rest is a consideration of objections [and, I might add, implications], in which the further unfolding of the righteousness is only incidental." [Note: Stifler, p. 67.]

The characteristics of justification are that it is apart from the Law (Romans 3:21), through faith in Christ (Romans 3:22 a), for all people (Romans 3:22-23), by grace (Romans 3:24), at great cost to God (Romans 3:24-25), and in perfect justice (Romans 3:26). [Note: Wiersbe, 1:523-24.]