Romans 3:21-4:8

New International Reader's Version

Becoming Right With God by Faith

²¹ But now God has shown us his saving power without the help of the law. But the Law and the Prophets tell us about this. ²² We are made right with God by putting our faith in Jesus Christ. This happens to all who believe. It is no different for the Jews than for the Gentiles. ²³ Everyone has sinned. No one measures up to God’s glory. ²⁴ The free gift of God’s grace makes us right with him. Christ Jesus paid the price to set us free. ²⁵ God gave Christ as a sacrifice to pay for sins through the spilling of his blood. So God forgives the sins of those who have faith. God did all this to prove that he does what is right. He is a God of mercy. So he did not punish for their sins the people who lived before Jesus lived. ²⁶ God did all this to prove in our own time that he does what is right. He also makes right with himself those who believe in Jesus.

²⁷ So who can brag? No one! Are people saved by the law that requires them to obey? Not at all! They are saved because of the law that requires faith. ²⁸ We firmly believe that a person is made right with God because of their faith. They are not saved by obeying the law. ²⁹ Or is God the God of Jews only? Isn’t he also the God of Gentiles? Yes, he is their God too. ³⁰ There is only one God. When those who are circumcised believe in him, he makes them right with himself. Suppose those who are not circumcised believe in him. Then God also will make them right with himself. ³¹ Does faith make the law useless? Not at all! We agree with the law.

Abraham’s Faith Made Him Right With God

4 What should we say about these things? What did Abraham, the father of our people, discover about being right with God? ² Did he become right with God because of something he did? If so, he could brag about it. But he couldn’t brag to God. ³ What do we find in Scripture? It says, “Abraham believed God. God accepted Abraham’s faith, and so his faith made him right with God.” (Genesis 15:6)

⁴ When a person works, their pay is not considered a gift. It is owed to them. ⁵ But things are different with God. He makes ungodly people right with himself. If people trust in him, their faith is accepted even though they do not work. Their faith makes them right with God. ⁶ King David says the same thing. He tells us how blessed people are when God makes them right with himself. They are blessed because they don’t have to do anything in return. David says,