Romans: God Is Not Fair (Romans 3:25b-31; Justice and Boasting)

The justice of God

(Rom 3:25b-26 ESV) 25b This was to show God’s righteousness [faithfulness to his covenant with Abraham], because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins.  26 It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

Rom 3:26 is another verse where the translation is controversial. You see, the Greek word that we routinely translate “righteous” can also be translated “just”; and so the word translated “justifier” could also be translated “one who declares righteous.”

Well, up to this point, we’ve been translating the root as “righteous,” and so we likely should do the same here —

(Rom 3:25b-26 ESV) 25b This was to show God’s righteousness [faithfulness to his covenant with Abraham], because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins.  26 It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be [righteous] and the [one who declares righteous] the one who has faith in Jesus.

You see, in context, the challenge isn’t how to be just while also being gracious. Rather, the challenge is the invitation of the Gentiles into the Kingdom. And the emphasis in v. 25a isn’t on Jesus as propitiation but on salvation by faith, found in the same verse:

(Rom 3:22b-25a ESV) 22b For there is no distinction:  23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,  24 and are justified [declared righteous] by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,  25a whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith

God’s grace, as a gift, received by faith, gives us redemption from sin — in Christ Jesus, put forward as a propitiation.

(Rom 3:25b-26 ESV) 25b This was to show God’s righteousness [faithfulness to his covenant with Abraham], because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins.  26 It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be [righteous] and the [one who declares the one who has faith in Jesus [righteous].

“This” in v. 25b, therefore, refers to God’s gift of grace through faith — and God’s gift demonstrates that God is keeping his covenant with Abraham to declare those with faith righteous and to bless the nations through Abraham.

“It” in v. 26, therefore, is the demonstration of God’s covenant faithfulness through the provision of God’s grace through faith in Jesus, so that God will be faithful to his covenant and will declare those with faith in Jesus righteous.

You see, the text isn’t about God wrestling with how to save without violating his character as a just God, but about God working salvation for Jews and Gentiles alike through Jesus. It’s about Jesus dying on the cross so that God could honor his covenant with Abraham despite Israel’s lack of faith. Israel had failed to be faithful, but Jesus was faithful. And Jesus’ faithfulness made him the proper redeeming sacrifice.

Boasting

(Rom 3:27-31 ESV) 27 Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith.  28 For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.  29 Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also,  30 since God is one–who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith.  31 Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law.

Let’s revise our translation just a hair —

(Rom 3:27-31 ESV) 27 Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of [Torah]? By a [Torah] of works? No, but by the [Torah] of faith.  28 For we hold that one is [declared righteous] by faith apart from works of the [Torah].  29 Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also,  30 since God is one–who will [declare righteous] the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith.  31 Do we then overthrow the [Torah] by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the [Torah].

Now, the Torah includes Genesis through Deuteronomy, and so includes not only the statutes God gave through Moses but also the covenant with Abraham. It’s all Torah, which is the Hebrew word for “law.”