Romans 3:21-24

Romans 3:21-24 contains Paul’s essential points regarding the “good news” he proclaimed in 1:17. Martin Luther refered to this passage as the chief point, and the very central place of the Epistle and of the whole Bible. The letter’s first two and a half chapters (1:18-3:20) proclaimed that all human being are, without any exception, sinful, guilty, inexcusable and speechless before God. Yet these verses (3:21-26) are “the great turning point” in both the direction of the letter and God’s dealing with the human race.

Νυνὶ δὲ χωρὶς νόμουδικαιοσύνη θεοῦπεφανέρωται,μαρτυρουμένη ὑπὸ τοῦνόμου καὶ τῶν προφητῶν,δικαιοσύνη δὲ θεοῦ διὰπίστεως Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ,εἰς πάντας τοὺςπιστεύοντας· οὐ γάρ ἐστινδιαστολή· πάντες γὰρ ἥμαρτον καὶὑστεροῦνται τῆς δόξηςτοῦ θεοῦ, δικαιούμενοι δωρεὰν τῇαὐτοῦ χάριτι διὰ τῆςἀπολυτρώσεως τῆς ἐνΧριστῷ Ἰησοῦ·

My translation...

But now a righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, being witnessed by the law and prophets, a righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ, to all those who believe. For there is no difference, for all sinned and fall short of the glory of God; being justified freely in his grace, through the redemption which has come from Christ Jesus.

Key Points:

• This righteousness of God has been made available apart from the law
• This righteousness only comes to those who believe and have faith in Jesus
• Because no matter who we are we have all sinned... and are constantly falling short of God's glory
• But all those who believe have been justified freely through the grace which came to us from God through Jesus' redemptive act on the Cross.