«"A person is justified by faith apart from the observance of the law" (Romans 3:21-30)

Reading from the Letter of Saint Paul the Apostle to the Romans

Brothers,

Now apart from the Law, God has revealed his righteousness, as the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness of God, given through faith in Jesus Christ, is offered to all who believe. For there is no distinction: all have sinned, all fall short of the glory of God, and he freely makes them righteous by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

For it was God’s purpose that Christ should be the instrument of forgiveness, through faith in his blood. In this way God wanted to reveal his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had overlooked past sins. He wanted to reveal at the present time what his righteousness consists of, to show that he is just and that he justifies those who put their faith in Jesus.

So, is there anything to boast about? Absolutely not. By what law? By works? Not at all. But by faith. For we consider a person to be justified by faith apart from the observance of the law of Moses.

Or is God only the God of the Jews? Is he not also the God of the Gentiles? Assuredly, he is also the God of the Gentiles, since there is only one God: he will justify by faith those who have received the circumcision, and also through faith those who have not.

Under the sign of faith: understanding justice according to Saint Paul in Romans 3:21-30

Divine justice offered through faith, beyond all law.

Paul writes to the Romans to clarify a shocking truth God's righteousness does not depend on strict observance of the Law, but is acquired through faith in Jesus Christ. This message is for everyone, Jews and Gentiles alike, who seek an authentic relationship with God. This article explores this rich passage, showing how it overturns traditional conceptions of divine justice and paves the way for a universal faith.

We will begin by situating the text within its historical and religious context, then analyze its central theological dynamic. Next, three areas will explore the dimension of faith, the universality of divine justice, and its practical implications. Finally, a connection with tradition and suggestions for meditation will invite us to embody this message.

Context

The passage from Romans 3:21-30 is part of the letter that Saint Paul addressed to the Christian community of Rome, composed of Jews and Gentile converts. This letter, written around 57-58 AD, aims to demonstrate the coherence of God's plan of salvation, which transcends ethnic and religious particularities. At the heart of his reflection, Paul seeks to explain how God's justice is revealed "today" regardless of the law» (v.21), that is, no longer according to the criteria of the Law of Moses, but according to a new covenant founded on faith in Christ.

In this passage, Paul declares, «God has made his righteousness manifest: the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it» (v. 21). With this statement, he affirms continuity with biblical tradition while announcing a radical new element: divine righteousness does not come from strict adherence to legal prescriptions, but from a gift—righteousness through faith. Paul emphasizes the universality of this righteousness: «it is offered to all who believe» (v. 22), stressing that all, «all have sinned» (v. 23), are in the same need of redemption. This forgiveness, freely offered by grace in Jesus Christ (vv. 24–25), becomes the central element of the Christian faith.

The point is to affirm that this divine justice is accessible to all, Jews and Gentiles, "since there is only one God" (v. 29). Paul rejects the idea that justice is linked to ethnicity or strict observance of the Law, insisting that it is through faith, "the law of faith" (v. 27), that a person becomes righteous.

The theological implications of this statement This is colossal: Paul overturns traditional frameworks and establishes faith as a new condition for accessing God, thus opening up a radical new path for the Christian community. This text, therefore, is a major key to understanding Pauline doctrine and the universal message of the Gospel.

Faith, the sole source of divine justice

The central idea that Paul develops here rests on a paradox: divine righteousness cannot be attained through works of the Law, nor through human merit, but exclusively through faith. This paradox clashes with traditional religious expectations, where the perfect observance of the Law guaranteed righteousness before God. Paul, on the contrary, affirms that "a person is righteous by faith apart from the observance of the law" (v. 28).

This faith is not merely an intellectual assent, but a radical act of trust in the saving power of the crucified and risen Christ. In this, divine justice is both a free gift and an inner transformation. The text emphasizes that Christ becomes "the instrument of forgiveness, through his blood, by means of faith" (v. 25), manifesting God's justice in the redemption that God accomplishes.

By this Through faith, man enters into a new relationship with God., solidified not by the outward observance of the Law, but by trust in the redemptive work of Christ. Righteousness then becomes "the law of faith" as opposed to "the law of works" (v. 27), a law not written in rules, but engraved in living trust.

On an existential level, this dynamic transforms the human condition, marked by universal guilt—"all men have sinned" (v. 23)—by offering a path to liberation and renewal. Faith becomes the vehicle of a received justice, which no longer depends on the individual's own strength, but on mercy And loyalty of God.

Spiritually, this passage calls for a profound conversion of the way we look at ourselves, the shift from the law of merit to the faith of giving, which transforms the inner life and opens the way to salvation.

Faith, the foundation of justice

Paul insists that faith is not a passive state but an active process. It is through faith that one receives "the righteousness of God" (v. 21) manifested in Jesus Christ. This faith implies full adherence to the person of Christ, to his liberating work, and complete trust in the grace offered.

This righteousness through faith does not nullify the Law; it manifests its ultimate fulfillment. In this sense, faith transcends external prescriptions to aim at inner transformation. It allows the believer to participate in God's very righteousness, without ever reducing it to a mere legal code.

The law of faith does not mean abandoning morality, but a renewed commitment to what the profound truth of the Law reveals: the loving relationship with God. This faith is the condition for receiving what the Law could not guarantee: a fully and completely granted justice.

Universality of divine justice

Paul denounces any claim of religious exclusivity. He answers the objection, «Is God only the God of the Jews?» (v. 29), by affirming that God is also «the God of the Gentiles» (v. 29). Through this inclusivity, he affirms the fundamental unity of humanity before God.

The justice offered by faith transcends ethnic, cultural, and religious boundaries. It welcomes at its center uncircumcised Gentiles as well as circumcised Jews. Faith thus becomes the element of unity, abolishing distinctions and creating a new people, founded on the relationship with God.

In this sense, the passage opens towards a universalist understanding of salvation, where God does not show favoritism, but will "make righteous" (v.30) all who believe, renewing the promise made to the patriarchs.

Practical implications and ethical purpose

This passage engages us in concrete life. While justice does not depend on the works of the Law in the legal or ritual sense, this is not a license to neglect moral life. True faith is manifested in a genuine relationship with God and others, a relationship that brings about transformation.

Christian ethics are thus rooted in this living and active faith, which produces works as fruits and not as causes of righteousness. This calls for the rejection of all pride linked to so-called "perfect observance" and opens the way to...humility and to solidarity.

Thus, justice through faith invites us to practice authentic charity, to live in accordance with love received, participating in the divine work of reconciliation and peace within society.

Tradition and theological echo

This major text by Paul was central to the reflection of the Church Fathers, in particular Saint Augustinewho meditated on it within the framework of grace and original sin. For him, God's justice is given through active faith, an essential principle of Christian theology.

Christian liturgy reaffirms this truth by proclaiming faith as the path to salvation, inviting us to trust in mercy infinite of God. In spirituality, this passage inspires the prayer of total surrender to God, the foundation of an authentic spiritual life.

Path of meditation

1. To humbly acknowledge one's own fragility and the need for divine grace.
2. To meditate on the freely given nature of justice offered by faith, without human merit.
3. Commit to trusting more, especially in times of hardship.
4. Cultivate charity active as a concrete expression of faith.
5. Remember the universality of God, who makes no distinctions.
6. To live faith as a living relationship, not as a mere dogma.
7. Opening oneself to inner transformation through trust in Jesus Christ.

Conclusion

This passage from Romans reveals a revolutionary truth: righteousness comes from God through faith in Christ, not through legal works. This proclamation calls for a reversal of our certainties, a conversion of heart to receive this gift.

By bearing witness to this justice freely offered to all, Paul paves the way for universal faith and a profoundly renewed life, humble and righteous before God and humanity. In this light, each person is called to live a faith that transforms and transcends all division.

Spiritual practices

• Read Romans 3:21-30 daily in meditation.
• Practice prayer of trust in God's justice.
• Avoid spiritual pride linked to a false legal justice.
• To live out concrete acts of charity as fruits of faith.
• Participate in biblical discussions on faith and justice.
• Offering unconditional forgiveness to others as a reflection of grace.
• Reflect regularly on the universality of the salvation offered.