Romans 3:21-4:8

Christian Standard Bible

The Righteousness of God through Faith

²¹But now, apart from the law, the righteousness of God has been revealed,^(A) attested by the Law and the Prophets.^[a]^(B) ²²The righteousness of God is through faith^(C) in Jesus Christ^[b]^(D) to all who believe,^(E) since there is no distinction.^(F) ²³For all have sinned^(G) and fall short of the^[c] glory of God; ²⁴they are justified freely by his grace^(H) through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.^(I) ²⁵God presented him as the mercy seat^[d]^(J) by his blood,^(K) through faith, to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his restraint God^(L) passed over the sins previously committed.^(M) ²⁶God presented him to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so that he would be just and justify the one who has faith in Jesus.

Boasting Excluded

²⁷Where, then, is boasting?^(N) It is excluded. By what kind of law?^[e]^(O) By one of works? No, on the contrary, by a law^[f] of faith. ²⁸For we conclude that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.^(P) ²⁹Or is God the God of Jews only?^(Q) Is he not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too, ³⁰since there is one God^(R) who will justify the circumcised by faith^(S) and the uncircumcised through faith. ³¹Do we then nullify the law through faith? Absolutely not!^(T) On the contrary, we uphold the law.^(U)

Abraham Justified by Faith

4 What then will we say that Abraham, our forefather^(V) according to the flesh, has found?^[g] ²If Abraham was justified^[h] by works,^(W) he has something to boast about—but not before God. ³For what does the Scripture say? Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him for righteousness.^[i]^(X) ⁴Now to the one who works,^(Y) pay is not credited as a gift, but as something owed. ⁵But to the one who does not work, but believes on him who justifies the ungodly,^(Z) his faith is credited for righteousness.

David Celebrating the Same Truth

⁶Likewise, David also speaks of the blessing of the person to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:

⁷Blessed are those whose lawless acts are forgiven
and whose sins are covered.
⁸Blessed is the person
the Lord will never charge with sin.^[j]^(AA)

Footnotes

3:21 When capitalized, the Law and the Prophets = OT
3:22 Or through the faithfulness of Jesus Christ
3:23 Or and lack the
3:25 Or propitiation, or place of atonement
3:27 Or what principle?
3:27 Or a principle
4:1 Or What then shall we say? Have we found Abraham to be our forefather according to the flesh? or What, then, shall we say that Abraham our forefather found according to the flesh?
4:2 Or was declared righteous, or was acquitted
4:3 Gn 15:6
4:7–8 Ps 32:1–2

Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

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