Righteousness only through faith in Jesus Christ: (3:21-31):
Only through the Lord Jesus Christ, we have the forgiveness of sins and obtain righteousness through faith in Him.
Revelation of righteousness: (3:21-22): God provided a glorious transition from judgement to the justification. The righteousness is provided apart from the law, a new Covenant God establishes with humanity. The law cannot save us, but God revealed a righteousness that would save us, apart from the law. This righteousness, the prophets had testified long time ago. The righteous from God comes only through faith in Jesus Christ and those who believe regardless of religion, creed, caste, status or gender. The OT prophets time and again prophesied. God in His own time, brought into the world, the righteousness through Jesus Christ and all those who believe in Him may have Christ’s righteousness. God’s righteousness is not given to supplement our righteousness, but it is given completely apart from our attempted righteousness. This righteousness does not come through our good deeds, maintaining the law or the activities of being religious, not by our merit, but it is a free gift to all those who believe in Jesus’s name.
Man’s desperate need of God’s universal offer: (3:23-26):
Paul says that there is absolutely no difference existing among human beings because all have sinned and the entire human race is plunged into sin right from Adam. So there is no question of any privilege for Jews and God’s condemnation is upon everyone. No one can stake claim of righteousness by his own efforts.
Not only did all human race sinned, they also fall short of God’s expectations. Further they keep falling short. Not a single human being is able to measure up to the glory of God by his or her own efforts or by merit.
“The harlot, the liar, the murderer, are short of it; but so are you. Perhaps they stand at the bottom of a mine, and you on the crest of an Alp; but you are as little able to touch the stars as they” (Morris). How are we falling short of God’s expectations, there are numerous ways:
- We allow sinful thoughts to brood in our minds.
- We fail to give God the glory due Him, in our words, thoughts and actions.
- We take a casual approach of our day-to-day sins committed knowingly and un-knowingly.
- We fail to qualify for, and thereby reject, the glory and reward that God gives to faithful servants.
- We fail to properly reflect God’s glory, by refusing to be conformed into His image.
- We fail to discipline our lives and there by rejecting God’s perfect will in our lives.
Everyone falls short, but everyone can be justified freely by His grace. It is the gift of God through which we receive justification, redemption. This is the salvation for every human being. The blood and righteousness of Jesus Christ will save every man who trusts him, for ‘there is no difference. Paul develops this Salvation through some wonderful words:
- Justification: Man’s guilt is cancelled. It is a court scene. He is treated as though he has not committed any sin. He is made at par with blessed ones.
- Redemption: The slavery of human beings with sin, world and devil are removed. This again points to the redemption of Israelites from the slavery of Egypt. We are saved from the clutches and slavery of sin and Satan. We are free indeed, because the Gospel has set us free. In Christ we have the freedom.
- Propitiation: (3:25a): The Lord Jesus Christ became propitiation for our sins. We were objects of wrath and God’s Holy anger. But Jesus Christ atoned by laying down His life for us, propitiated or satisfied God’s anger, so that His holiness was not compromised in forgiving sinners. He wiped away our sins. God’s righteous anger needed to be appeased before sin could be forgiven. This is how God had manifested His greatest love by sending His own Son who willingly offered Himself as a sacrifice for our redemption. God cannot give us His righteousness apart from Jesus Christ.
- Divine forbearance of former sins: (3:25b): Paul says that God had passed over the former sins in His divine forbearance. It is something like God delayed the punishment which was due for the sinners. It is because God looked forward to the cross of Christ where the full payment for the guilt of sin would be made, where Christ would die in the place of sinners. The image of Christ bearing the sins of the world is shown as a shadow in many places in O.T.
Ex. Abraham offered the sheep in place of his son; the Passover of angel of death in Egypt etc.
Further God relented His anger upon the sinners is shown in many instances.
Ex. When Moses prayed, “the Lord relented from the disaster that He had spoken of bring on His people” (Ex.32:14); “the Lord turned from His burning anger” when Achan was stoned (Jos.7:26) etc.
At present time, God is delaying because He is giving time for us to repent (2:4).
- God is just and the penalty is paid : (3:26): God is righteous. He had to satisfy His own righteousness and at the same time the requirement of punishment against sinners was fully met. This was accomplished by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, His incarnate Son and acceptance by faith by the sinners. The death of Christ has vindicated God’s own righteousness. He is just because the penalty was paid for, which enables God to declare every believing sinner righteous.
Righteousness is by faith only: (3:27-31):
Paul in his typical way of explanation, he puts 5-questions and gives answer subsequently. Two questions in (3:27), two questions in (3:29) and one in (3:31).
- Where is the boasting? (3:27a): How can Jews have special position? There cannot be any boasting, because we are justified freely by His grace. There is no room for self congratulation or credit for merit.
- What kind of law? By a law of works? (3:27b-28): The law or the principles or the works can become no basis. The Law cannot justify because it was not given for that purpose. For a man is justified and declared righteous only by faith in Christ, apart from the Law. The true faith alone saves. The true has distinct character, it is not just agreeing with certain facts, but it is a directing of the mind and the will in agreement with God. James in his letter describe the character of this saving faith.
- Is God the God of Jews only? (3:29a) of course not.
- Is He not the God of Gentiles also? (3:29b-30): Yes of Gentiles also. Since God is the Lord of all, whether Jews, or Gentiles or Greeks or barbarians etc. There is no distinction, no regard for background. Any person will be justified by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. God justifies both circumcised, uncircumcised by faith and faith alone.
From the beginning when God called Abraham, the Gentiles were worshiping idols or false God, where as Jews knew the true God and worshipped Yahweh. He is the creator. He chose the nation Israel the descendants of Abraham. This was God’s choice. God in His Sovereignty had a wonderful plan for the Gentiles too which is evident in the book of Jonah (Jonah was sent as a missionary to Nineveh). But this would not give any preference or concessions for Jews for the Justification. There is no difference between Jews and Gentiles when it comes to the act of Salvation, for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God (3:23).
5. Do we overthrow the law by this faith? (3:31): Do make this law void?
If the law does not make us righteous, what use it is for? Some one can ask us. The law makes us to anticipate the coming Gospel of justification by faith. The end of the law is faith which Jews could not understand or realise. The OT spoke clearly at many instances, the coming of the Lord Jesus, the Messiah into this world, but the Jews have rejected it. Paul clarifies that the purpose of the Mosaic law is fulfilled in the God’s Universal plan, when individual come to Christ in faith accepting Him as the Lord and Saviour. The faith in fact fulfills the law and so there is no need to overthrow it. We can uphold the law, come to our redeemer in faith. Therefore Gospel establishes the law, fulfilling its own predictions.
A few questions to answer before we move to next chapter:
- Did the Jews, by having the Scriptures, have an advantage in salvation? (3:2)
- Does my sin give God an opportunity to be more gracious? (3:7)
- What does the Bible speak of Jews and Gentiles? (3:10-12)
- If the law can’t declare us righteous, what is it good for? (3:20)
- How are we justified or declared righteous? (3:22, 24, 26, 28).
- How does Jesus’ sacrifice demonstrate God’s justice? (3:25)
- How can we respond to Christ’s greatest sacrifice?