For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the law.We maintain therefore that a man is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.We reckon therefore that a man is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.
6 sermons cite this verse
… No, but by the law of faith. For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law. Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also. since God is one who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith. Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means. On the contrary, we uphold the law. Some of you are doctrine people, and some of you are so what people. Obviously, we want to be both, but some of you are doctrine people, meaning you would take a sermon on propitiation any Sunday. Give me one on redemption. Give me one. If it ends in T-I-O-N, I want a whole sermon on it. Give me the history of the RSV. Boy, I can't get enough of that. So some of you, you just, you love to read doctrine, study doctrine, and you love the doctrine here in Romans. And I make no apologies for giving doctrine because there's a lot of it in the Bible. …
… No, but on that of faith. For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from observing the law. Is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles? too? Yes, of Gentiles too, since there's only one God who will judge the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith. Do we then nullify the law by this faith? Not at all. Rather, we uphold the law. What then should we say that Abraham, our forefather, discovered in this matter? If in fact Abraham had something to boast about, if in fact Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about, but not before God. What does the scripture say? Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness. Now when a man works, his wages are not credited him as a gift, but as an obligation. However, the man who doesn't work, but who trusts God, who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness. David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works. …
… but that which comes through faith in Christ Jesus. does. Famously, Martin Luther emphasized that Romans 3.28 means we are justified by faith alone. And it's true that that precious gospel doctrine was obscured, but I don't want you to think that it was the invention of the Reformers. Several church fathers and medieval theologians understood verse 28 in this way. For example, one of the commentaries that I'm using through this series is from John Chrysostom, the most famous preacher from the fourth century, so the 300s. Here's what he says. What is the law of faith? This is Chrysostom, Fourth century, commenting on verse 28. It is being saved by grace. Here he shows God's power in that he has not only saved, but has even justified, and led them to boasting, and this too, without needed works, but looking for faith only. That's what the church father Chrysostom says. interprets verse 28 as Luther does, faith only. Faith plus nothing yields justification. Faith plus nothing yields justification. …
… And Paul is going to pick up this theme again, verse 28, for we hold that no one is justified by faith apart from works of the law. Verse 28, verse 20, making that important statement about our works before God. But notice the language in verse 20 and verse 28, works of the law. Here in verse 21, it is simply the word, the law. Now, they're hitting upon the same kind of idea, but it's not identical. We'll come back in the weeks ahead to verse 28, and we'll hit that point once again, that this is a justification apart from the works of the law. but here in verse 21, he's saying something slightly different. Think about what is he saying? What is the but now? What's new? Because if you say, well, what's new is we're justified by faith. Careful, that's not new. When Paul gets to chapter 4, he's going to anchor this teaching about justification by faith alone in the person of Abraham that he was justified by faith alone. …
This is going to be an exciting day as we study the most important paragraph in the Bible, which is Romans chapter 3, verses 21 through 28. Let's talk about the product. Whenever you're marketing, you have to have a product. So what's the product here? Jesus. It's a pretty good product, isn't it? That's who Paul is marketing. And the Bible tells us in verse 21, like I told you a second ago, but now apart from the law, apart, what? Apart from the law, the righteousness of God has been made known. Again, this is a major sea change. Paul now is talking about God rolling out this different way, this new way to have the righteousness of God through faith in Christ. So whenever you see those transitional phrases in the Bible, pay attention. But now, but now, apart from the law, the righteousness of God has been made known. This word known or the phrase made known is the Greek term. I love this. Fanarou. We get the word fan from this. …
… For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from observing the law. Is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too, since there is only one God who will judge the circumcised, that's the Jewish people by faith, and the uncircumcised, the Gentiles, so that same faith. The whole picture, and it just goes on. Romans 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, like it's all by faith. This is how you and I and people all over the world can be saved from sin. By faith in Jesus. that brings us back to our question doesn't it like how then can people put their faith in jesus if they never hear of jesus and that is the exact question of the exact words Paul uses in Romans 10 turn over there with me Romans chapter 10 verse 13 everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved how then can they call on the one they have not believed in how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? …