Romans 3

God Remains Faithful

1What advantage, then, does the Jew have? Or what is the value of circumcision? 2Much in every way. First of all, they were entrusted with God’s words. 3What if some were unfaithful? Will their unfaithfulness cancel God’s faithfulness? 4Absolutely not! Let God be true even if every human being is a liar, as it is written,
“So that you may be shown right in your words
and prevail when you are judged.” 5But if our unrighteousness demonstrates God’s righteousness, what should we say? Is God unjust to bring wrath? I am speaking in human terms. 6Absolutely not! Otherwise, how will God judge the world? 7But if through my falsehood God’s truth overflows to his glory, why am I still judged as a sinner? 8And why not say—as some slanderously claim we say—“Let us do evil so that good may come”? Their condemnation is deserved.

All Are Under Sin

9What then? Are we any better? Not at all. For we have already charged that both Jews and Greeks are all under sin, 10as it is written:
“There is no one righteous,
not even one. 11There is no one who understands;
there is no one who seeks God. 12All have turned aside;
together they have become worthless.
There is no one who does good,
not even one.” 13“Their throat is an open grave;
with their tongues they deceive.”
“The venom of snakes is under their lips.” 14“Their mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.” 15“Their feet are swift to shed blood; 16ruin and misery are in their paths, 17and they have not known the way of peace.” 18“There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

19We know that whatever the Law says, it speaks to those under the Law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world become accountable to God. 20For no human being will be set right in God’s sight by works of the Law, because through the Law comes knowledge of sin.

God’s Righteousness Revealed

21But now, apart from the Law, God’s righteousness has been revealed, though the Law and the Prophets testify to it— 22God’s righteousness through the faithfulness of Jesus Christ, for all who trust. For there is no distinction: 23all have sinned and fall short of God’s glory, 24and they are set right freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. 25God presented him as a place of atonement by his blood, received through trust. This was to demonstrate God’s righteousness, because in his restraint God had passed over sins committed beforehand. 26It was to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so that God may be just and the one who sets right the person who lives from Jesus’ faithfulness.

Boasting Is Excluded

27Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? A law of works? No, but by the law of trust. 28For we hold that a person is set right by trust apart from works of the Law. 29Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not also the God of Gentiles? Yes, of Gentiles also, 30since God is one, and he will set right the circumcised from trust and the uncircumcised through trust. 31Do we then overthrow the Law through trust? Absolutely not! Instead, we uphold the Law.