Helen Benson
Subject: Romans
Question: Paul and the Law: Write on the interpretive section of Romans 3:21-31
INTRODUCTION:
In Romans 3:10-20 Paul had been reflecting upon the Old Testament scripture of Psalm 14:1-3 and 53:1-4 to express the theme that ‘All have sinned’ and the righteousness of man is as a filthy rag.
In this section of Rm 3:21-31, I seek to give outlines to explain the fact that despite the bad news in the afore verses 10-21 that the law brings out our sinfulness and God condemnation. There is a way out by means of justification and Christ propitiation.
Verses 21-26. Explains the centrality of the message that Paul want to pass on to his readers that: There is a way to be declare not guilty – by trusting Jesus Christ to take away our sins. Many scholars have referred to this section as ‘centre and heart’ of the whole main section of the letter.[1]
This section in my own understanding reflects upon theological themes that are connected to the doctrine of salvation. Themes like:
* Justification: A term that denotes pardon and free forgives after been found not guilty. Thus it is a legal and forensic term in the Name: court of law. Here Paul use the same metaphoric term to express how God in Christ Jesus has set us free from his condemnation.
However, the source of this justification is God and means of His grace (v24) for without it everyman stands condemn in its sins and total depravity. Thus, through the faith upon Christ blood shed on the cross was justification made effective.[2] And again the ground of our justification is basically the Person of Christ and the cross.
- Redemption:(Gk. apolytrosis) This word like justification is also a legal term, which denotes that sense of Old Testament term of a slave been purchase and set free of his bondage.[3] Thus, the price of this purchase is Jesus life paid as a ransom for many to be set free.[4]
- Propitiation: (GK. hilasterion) this is another technical and theological word that expressed the act in salvation history. Here, the word means that God in His infinite mercy by the death of Christ on the cross turned the anger of God’s wrath into an embracing of love for sinners to be drawn near unto God spiritually.[5] So here Christ is the atonement sacrifice that turn God’s wrath into His merciful love.
- Demonstration: (GK.endeixix) this word is mention twice both in verses 25 & 26 to typify the efficacy and the power of God behind the whole concept of salvation. Here the concept demonstration brought justice into being, and left sinners no condemned, as they are not under the law of sin anymore. (Romans 8:1-2)
Faith versus Works:
Verses 27-31: several questions were being asked to show answer to the defence that only ‘faith’ in Christ secures for all sinners redemption and total salvation, and not works of law so that no man can boast.
For the question should be ‘why did God save us by faith alone? The answer simply is that faith eliminates the pride of human effort, and faith exalt what God has done, not what people do. Also faith alone admits that we cannot keep the law or measure up to God’s standard for we certainly need help!
Then also faith is based upon our relationship with God, not our performance for God.
CONCLUSION
In my conclusion I need to reflect upon the verse 23 of Romans 3. Where the statement is rendered that ‘All have sinned and come short of the glory of God’. This simply means men are all together without any virtue in which they may glory before God.[6]
Therefore, we must reflect on our righteousness only by reason of the justification, propitiation of Christ as the only atonement that can procure for us a full redemption.
Thus, the law those not justifies but faith in God’s grace and His mercy.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
- John Stott, The Message of Romans, IVP, Leicester, England, 1994
- Martin Luther, translated by J Theodore Mueller, Commentary on Romans, Kregel Classics, Grand Rapids, 1954
- Mathew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible, Hendrickson, 2005
- Life Application Study Bible Commentary, Tyndale House, Illinois,1993
[1] John Stott, The Message of Romans, IVP, Leicester, p.109
[2] Martin Luther, Translated by J.Theodore Mueller: Commentary on Romans, Kregel Classics, Zondervan, p.79
[3] Stott, p.113
[4] Mark 10:45
[5] Mathew Henry’s commentary on the Whole Bible, Hendrickson, p.2201
[6] Martin Luther, p.77
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