Dr. Alva McClain said that
"This section is the very heart of the book of Romans. For this reason, all Christians ought to memorize Ro 3:21-26. If someone should ask me, 'Brother McClain, if you could have just six verses out of the Bible, and all the rest be taken away, which would you take?', I would select these six verses. All of God’s Gospel (Good News) is there, and in a way found nowhere else in the Word of God" (Alva McClain,
The Gospel of God's Grace).
Let us look at this passage and notice that it says that a righteousness apart from law is given to all who believe:
"But now apart from law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness is given through the faithfulness of Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished—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" (Ro.3:21-26).
If anyone says that it takes more than faith to receive this righteousness of God then he does not understand what Paul wrote here or is purposely perverting what he wrote.
Now a question for those who do believe what Paul wrote there. In verse 21 Paul says that 'the law and the Prophets testify" about this truth. What does he mean?
Thanks!
The Jews had the old law and it was comprised of good things to do and bad things not to do.
It also had the purification works of the law.
Circumcision was a requirement to enter this covenant with God. It was the sign and the seal.
It was a sign that the person did all the purification works of the law.
The Jews used to have to be purified, clean, just to go to the temple where God's Spirit was.
These purification works separated the Jews from all others; all others were unclean people and without God because they did not enter the covenant of circumcision with God.
Those who did not do these purification works of the law were enemies of God, they were without God and without Christ, and without hope. They were ungodly people.
The Jews were circumcised, adhered to a dietary law, did various external washings, observed special days, and sacrificed animals.
Those things justified the Jews and they were called children of God.
Those works of the law were just a teaching tool about what was coming. What was coming was Jesus Christ.
No more would Jews have to clean themselves anymore, just to go to the temple to be near God's Spirit.
Since Jesus, faith in his blood now cleans us and no one has to work at cleaning themselves.
That is the 'not of works' Paul is speaking of.
Paul would not ever teach that we are saved by faith without obeying.
