Righteousness Through Faith

21 But now apart from the law the righteousness of God(A) has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify.(B) 22 This righteousness(C) is given through faith(D) in[a] Jesus Christ(E) to all who believe.(F) There is no difference between Jew and Gentile,(G) 23 for all have sinned(H) and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified(I) freely by his grace(J) through the redemption(K) that came by Christ Jesus. 25 God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement,[b](L) through the shedding of his blood(M)—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished(N) 26 he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.

27 Where, then, is boasting?(O) It is excluded. Because of what law? The law that requires works? No, because of the law that requires faith. 28 For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.(P) 29 Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too,(Q) 30 since there is only one God, who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith.(R) 31 Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Not at all! Rather, we uphold the law.

Abraham Justified by Faith

What then shall we say(S) that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh,(T) discovered in this matter? If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about—but not before God.(U) What does Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”[c](V)

Now to the one who works, wages are not credited as a gift(W) but as an obligation. However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness.(X) David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the one to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:

“Blessed are those
    whose transgressions are forgiven,
    whose sins are covered.
Blessed is the one
    whose sin the Lord will never count against them.”[d](Y)

Footnotes

  1. Romans 3:22 Or through the faithfulness of
  2. Romans 3:25 The Greek for sacrifice of atonement refers to the atonement cover on the ark of the covenant (see Lev. 16:15,16).
  3. Romans 4:3 Gen. 15:6; also in verse 22
  4. Romans 4:8 Psalm 32:1,2

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