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Scott's Reference Library
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October 25, 2009
Romans 3:19 through Romans 3:28 (NIV)
19Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the
law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to
God. 20Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the
law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin.
21But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to
which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22This righteousness from God comes
through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, 23for
all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24and are justified freely
by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 25God presented
him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to
demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins
committed beforehand unpunished—26he did it to demonstrate his justice at the
present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in
Jesus.
27Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. On what principle? On that of
observing the law? No, but on that of faith. 28For we maintain that a man is
justified by faith apart from observing the law.
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
VERSES 19-20
It is in vain to seek for justification by the works of the law. All must plead
guilty. Guilty before God, is a dreadful word; but no man can be justified by a
law which condemns him for breaking it. The corruption in our nature, will for
ever stop any justification by our own works.
VERSES 21-26
Must guilty man remain under wrath? Is the wound for ever incurable? No; blessed
be God, there is another way laid open for us. This is the righteousness of God;
righteousness of his ordaining, and providing, and accepting. It is by that
faith which has Jesus Christ for its object; an anointed Saviour, so Jesus
Christ signifies. Justifying faith respects Christ as a Saviour, in all his
three anointed offices, as Prophet, Priest, and King; trusting in him, accepting
him, and cleaving to him: in all these, Jews and Gentiles are alike welcome to
God through Christ. There is no difference, his righteousness is upon all that
believe; not only offered to them, but put upon them as a crown, as a robe. It
is free grace, mere mercy; there is nothing in us to deserve such favours. It
comes freely unto us, but Christ bought it, and paid the price. And faith has
special regard to the blood of Christ, as that which made the atonement. God, in
all this, declares his righteousness. It is plain that he hates sin, when
nothing less than the blood of Christ would satisfy for it. And it would not
agree with his justice to demand the debt, when the Surety has paid it, and he
has accepted that payment in full satisfaction.
VERSES 27-31
God will have the great work of the justification and salvation of sinners
carried on from first to last, so as to shut out boasting. Now, if we were saved
by our own works, boasting would not be excluded. But the way of justification
by faith for ever shuts out boasting. Yet believers are not left to be lawless;
faith is a law, it is a working grace, wherever it is in truth. By faith, not in
this matter an act of obedience, or a good work, but forming the relation
between Christ and the sinner, which renders it proper that the believer should
be pardoned and justified for the sake of the Saviour, and that the unbeliever
who is not thus united or related to him, should remain under condemnation. The
law is still of use to convince us of what is past, and to direct us for the
future. Though we cannot be saved by it as a covenant, yet we own and submit to
it, as a rule in the hand of the Mediator.