Romans: But now...

 
Introduction and Recap
As we continue our journey through the book of Romans, we come to a critical turning point—what might be called a theological intersection. Up to this point, Paul has painted a picture of the human condition. He has walked his readers through the landscape of sin, judgment, and the wrath of God, showing how both Gentiles and Jews alike are under the weight of sin. However, the message now takes a glorious turn. In Romans 3:21-31, a shift in tone and direction is evident.

In the first twenty verses of chapter 3, the Apostle Paul reminds his readers that all humanity—Jew and Gentile alike—is under the penalty of sin. He clarifies that possessing the law does not make the Jew righteous. And the Gentile, though without the law, still stands guilty before God. Paul emphasizes that sin has blinded humanity and that no one, on their own, seeks after God. People may pursue spiritual experiences or moral achievements, but apart from God, all attempts fall short. The result is universal guilt and the inescapable judgment of God.

Today, we will spend time in Romans 3:21-30, and this passage answers a question that may have been quietly forming in the minds of Paul’s readers: If all of humanity is sinful and condemned, is there any hope? And Paul responds with a resounding yes. However, this hope is not based on human effort, but on God’s grace. This passage introduces us to the beautiful doctrine of justification by faith, a truth that is central not only to the book of Romans but to the entire Christian faith.

A Journey through the Early Chapters of Romans
For us to fully appreciate the significance and importance of today’s passage, it would be helpful to review the first two chapters. Like a long road trip with meaningful stops along the way, Paul guides us through some significant theological destinations:

1. The identity of the believer – We are God's beloved creations.
2. The person of Jesus – Fully human and fully divine.
3. The power of the gospel – It reveals God's righteousness and brings salvation.
4. Humanity's suppression of truth – Though God has made Himself known, people have rejected Him in favor of idolatry and immorality.
5. God’s judgment on sin – He is impartial and will judge both Jews and Gentiles alike.
6. Religious hypocrisy – The Jews, though entrusted with the law, were not practicing what they preached, and their hypocrisy led others to blaspheme God.
   
   

Romans 3:21-30

The Great Transition: “But Now…”
Verse 21 opens with two powerful words: “But now…” These words bring to the readers the dire hopelessness of human sin and lead us to the hope of God’s promises. Paul moves from the old way—life under the law—to a new way: justification by faith.

This passage is a powerful summary of the gospel throughout Scripture. In these verses, Paul ushers us into a new era of redemption, one that is no longer defined by strict adherence to the law but by faith in the redemptive work of Jesus Christ. This shift is huge. For centuries, the Jewish people had lived under the law given through Moses, which served as a guide and a standard for holy living. But as Paul makes clear, the law was never intended to be the means by which people attained righteousness. Rather, it functioned like a mirror, reflecting humanity’s sin and exposing the desperate need for a Savior.

Paul is not rejecting the value of the law, far from it. He is clarifying its purpose. The law reveals the character of God and highlights the seriousness of sin, but it is powerless to cleanse the human heart or to make one righteous before God. Obedience to the law could never fully atone for sin, nor could it restore the broken relationship between humanity and God. What the law could not do, God did through Jesus Christ. In Christ, the righteousness of God has been manifested—apart from the law—so that His grace justifies all who believe in Him. This righteousness is not something we earn; it is something we receive. It is the gracious gift of God, made possible through the sacrificial death and resurrection of Jesus, and accessed not by works, but by faith. Through this lens, Paul reveals that the cross is not only the centerpiece of salvation—it is the great equalizer, offering hope to both Jew and Gentile, and opening the door for all to be made right with God.

Amid this deep theological discourse, Paul uses several important words like justification, redemption, and atonement. While each of these terms deserves attention, we’ll focus on two that are foundational to this passage: justification and faith.

Justification: Declared Righteous
The word "justification" or “justified” does not appear in the NLT Bible; it appears in almost every major English translation. Justified is a legal term that means “to declare righteous.” It is not a process of becoming righteous, but a declaration that one is no longer under condemnation. In Romans 3:23, Paul reminds us that everyone has sinned and everyone has fallen short of the glory of God. This is not good news. It’s horrible news. But in verse 24, he says: We are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

In other words, we are acquitted of all charges, and this acquittal is not because of anything we have done, but because of what Christ has done. Jesus took upon Himself the punishment we deserved. Through His death on the cross, He satisfied the wrath of God and made a way for us to be forgiven.

Justification, Paul writes, is by grace, it is undeserved, unearned, and unmerited. No amount of moral effort, religious observance, or good deeds can earn it. Our declaration of justification is a gift received through faith in Jesus Christ.

Faith: Trusting in Jesus
Faith is more than intellectual agreement; it is a deep, personal trust in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Paul underscores the importance of faith by mentioning it eight times in just ten verses. Faith is the means by which we receive justification. According to Hebrews 11:1, “Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see.”

Importantly, justification is not automatic. It is not universally applied to all people. According to verse 25, God justifies those who have faith in Jesus. The door to salvation is wide open, but only those who walk through it by faith receive the benefits of what Christ has done.

Thus, Paul’s message is revolutionary, especially to his Jewish readers. He declares that righteousness is apart from the law and is not contingent on Jewish identity or heritage. At the same time, this is good news for the Gentiles, who had no access to the law to begin with. Now, both groups—Jews and Gentiles—are welcomed into God's family on the same terms: by grace through faith.

And because of this, no one can boast. Paul strips away every possibility for human pride. Whether you grew up in a religious home or came to Christ later in life, the ground is level at the foot of the cross. Salvation is not a reward for the good or the religious; it is a gift for the humble and the believing.

Faith, Works, and the Christian Life
This brings us to an important question that many people ask: What about good works? Do they matter?

In conversations about faith and salvation, it’s common to hear someone say, “I’m a good person. I try to help others. I’ve never done anything really bad, so I think I’ll go to heaven.” Or you may know someone who lives a kind, generous life but does not profess faith in Christ. It’s tempting for some to believe that goodness alone is enough to earn God’s favor.

But Paul is clear: even the best among us have fallen short. Our efforts, no matter how noble, cannot erase our sin or make us right with God. Justification comes only through faith in Christ, not through morality or religious performance.

That being said, good works are not irrelevant. According to James 2:17, “Faith without works is dead.” While it is true that good works do not save us, they are the evidence of a genuine faith. Ephesians 2:10 reminds us that we were created in Christ Jesus for good works—works that God prepared in advance for us to do. When we are justified by faith, our lives should naturally begin to bear the fruit of that faith in love, service, and obedience.

So no, our works cannot save us. But a life that has been transformed by grace will not remain fruitless. As Jesus said in Matthew 7:17, “A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit.”

Living Out the Gospel
The message of Romans 3:21-31 is both humbling and liberating. It reminds us that we are helpless to save ourselves, but also that we are not without hope. God, in His mercy, has made a way for us to be declared righteous through faith in Jesus Christ.

So, what do we do with this truth?

First, you must ask yourself: Have I placed my faith in Christ? Not faith in a church, a pastor, a tradition, or a set of moral principles—but in the person of Jesus. Faith is not inherited. It’s about a relationship with Jesus Christ, our Savior, who died and rose again for our justification.

Second, for those who do have faith in Christ, you must ask: Does my life reflect the fruit of that faith? Do good works flow from your life like a spring of fresh water? Am I living in gratitude and humility, or do I find myself slipping into self-righteousness or spiritual complacency?

Finally, you must resist the temptation to boast. You have nothing to brag about except the cross of Christ. The Apostle Paul writes in Galatians 6:14, “As for me, may I never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of that cross, my interest in this world has been crucified, and the world’s interest in me has also died.” Your life should point not to how good you are, but to how good God is.

Conclusion
I would like to conclude with a rather lengthy quote from the late theologian and pastor Timothy Keller, as he writes,

“What happens if we forget that God is “just,” or forget that he is “the one who justifies”? Unless your God is a God of both sacrificial love and holy anger against evil, it will introduce distortions into your life.[1]

On the one hand, if you object to the idea of a God with standards, and who upholds those standards, you are like a child who strains against the parental limits and who, if he succeeds in leaving them behind, spends his life feeling liberated and yet disoriented, with nothing to rely on, nothing under or around him. We (rightly) hear a lot about abusive, overbearing parents who do not show love to their children. But completely permissive parents who set no limits, give no guidance, and never confront their children are also unloving, and also destructive. The world is full of people raised with a supposedly enlightened view of a “loving,” “anything-goes” God, so they feel spiritually like orphans with no certainty or real love, because they are. They have ended up with a God who is uncaring and indifferent; and, of course, non-existent.[2]

A wrathful God without grace will never give you the motivation to live a decent life. You will feel crushed and despairing, or angry and defiant, and always be unloving, because fear can’t produce love. If you have a God only made of standards and judgment, you will be a driven person, never able to live up to his standards, always fleeing from him.

The wonder of the cross is that in the very same stroke it satisfies both the love of God and the justice of God. At the very same moment it shows us that God is both the Judge, who cares enough about his world to set standards and hold us accountable to them; and the Justifier, who has done everything necessary to forgive and restore us. He is a Father worth having, and he is a Father we can have.” [3]
 

[1] Timothy Keller, Romans 1–7 for You, ed. Carl Laferton, God’s Word for You (The Good Book Company, 2014), 84.
[2] Timothy Keller, Romans 1–7 for You, ed. Carl Laferton, God’s Word for You (The Good Book Company, 2014), 84–85.
[3] Timothy Keller, Romans 1–7 for You, ed. Carl Laferton, God’s Word for You (The Good Book Company, 2014), 85.

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