Paul's Epistle to the Romans, Part 6: The Perfect Solution

Romans 3:21-31

Paul has brought his readers to a very low place. They have nothing left to argue to show their value. Paul has proved that mankind is worthless and enslaved to sin. He has revealed the Law of Moses as the ultimate accuser of the human race. Everything seems rather bleak and gloomy at this point in Paul’s flow of thought. But, the Apostle is not finished yet. He needs to offer the ray of hope that God has provided to the world.

That is, God’s righteousness is available to men, but it does not come from the Law. Rather, it comes through faith in Jesus. As Paul has made clear, no one is acceptable in God’s sight by their own merits. Therefore, everyone must be justified by God’s grace through the salvation that comes from trusting in Christ.

It is precisely because of this state of affairs that man has no right to boast in himself. He has done nothing worthy of praise. God has graciously provided a means of escape from His own wrath. He has given this to all men, both Jew and Gentile, both with the Law and without the Law.

What a glorious hope God has given to humanity! The promise of redemption that is found in the blood of Christ should not be taken lightly. Furthermore, for those of us who have partaken of God’s salvation that is being described here, we should recognize the debt of gratitude we owe to our Lord and Savior. We have no grounds to boast in ourselves, because Christ has done it all for us.

Even though we know these truths, and should know better than to puff ourselves up with imagined importance, we as Christians sometimes still allow our egos to become inflated with self-worth. The doctrine Paul is preaching here in Romans 3 is precisely the medicine we need to come back down to earth and focus upon Christ.