Romans 3:21-26, Introduction

There has come a point in all of our lives when we have questioned the intentions of God. Either through trials and hardships that we ourselves have undergone or through the sufferings we see descending upon the world as a whole, the question creeps into our minds “Is God really just?”

This question may be only a fleeting thought in the midst of a passionate dispute against God or it may become well entrenched over the years in the heart of even those established in their faith. Perhaps the question of God’s justice so readily jumps to the forefront of our minds in the midst of trouble because it is so often attacked by the secular world that sees evil as proof of God’s non-existence. Not only does Satan raise the seed of doubt from within, but he is sure to nourish it from without until it has firmly taken root in our hearts. But thankfully God has not kept quiet on this issue. He has indeed answered His critics as well as comforted His people. Never did a vindication of the God’s goodness and justice ring as loudly as in Romans 3:21–26.

To set the context for this passage, Paul begins his letter to the Romans with an introduction of himself and his gospel (1:1–17), concluding the first section with the theme of the epistle “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is God's power for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For the righteousness of God is revealed in the gospel from faith to faith, just as it is written, ‘The righteous by faith will live’” (Romans 1:16–17, NET). This is followed by an extensive treatment on the doctrine of justification, arguing for the need of it (1:18–3:20), defining what it is (3:21–5:21), describing how it affects the individual (6:1–8:39), and elucidating Israel’s rejection of it (9:1­–11:36). Paul then discusses the implications and duties in the life of the believer in light of this doctrine (12:1–15:13) before concluding his letter (15:14­–16:27).[1]

Our particular passage of Romans 3:21–26 serves as a bridge between Paul’s argument for the need of justification and his definition of justification. He dedicates the beginning of his epistle to the proof that all humanity, both Jews and Gentiles, lie under the condemnation of sin (3:9). He follows this statement with a long series of Old Testament quotations to demonstrate his case and then increases the futility of the situation with the conclusion “by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight” (Romans 3:20).

How then are we to have any hope if we are still condemned even following the Law? If we are so wretched, then how can God mercifully redeem His creation while still remaining righteous in His wrath against sin? These are the questions Paul now undertakes in revealing the true source of justification: the cross of Jesus Christ.

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[1] Book divisions taken from David K. Lowery, “Romans” (unpublished class notes in NT105 Exegesis of Romans, Dallas Theological Seminary, Fall 2008), 1.