What does Romans 3:31 Mean?

Study Notes

Do we then
The sinner establishes the law in its right use and honour by confessing his guilt, and acknowledging that by it he is justly condemned. Christ, on the sinner's behalf, establishes the law by enduring its penalty, death. Cf. Matthew 5:17 ; Matthew 5:18 .

Verse Meaning

Paul was not saying that the Law is valueless. The absence of the definite article "the" before the first occurrence of "Law" in this verse in the Greek text does not indicate that Paul was only thinking of law in general, as the context makes clear. Even though he believed in salvation by faith Paul saw the Law as having an important function. ^[1] Probably he meant that its function is to convict people of their inability to gain acceptance with God by their own works ( Romans 3:19-20). Another view is that Paul meant the Old Testament (law) testifies to justification by faith. ^[2] A third view is that faith provides the complete fulfillment of God"s demands in His Law. ^[3] The Law is not something God has given people to obey so they can obtain righteousness. Man"s inability to save himself required the provision of a Savior from God. The Law in a sense made Jesus Christ"s death necessary ( Romans 3:24-25). [source][source]

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The point of Romans 3:27-31 is that justification must come to all people by faith alone. Paul clarified here that this fact excludes boasting ( Romans 3:27-28). It is also logical in view of the sovereignty of God ( Romans 3:29-30), and it does not vitiate the Mosaic Law ( Romans 3:31). [source][source]

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Context Summary

From the universal need the Apostle turns to the all-sufficient remedy. The Law and the Prophets hinted dimly at justification by faith, but did not unveil it. God's way of justification is to impute righteousness to the believer. He places us in that position in law, before proceeding by the Holy Spirit to bring us into the condition of holiness. The perfect day is imputed to the dawn, the perfect flower to the seed, the finished picture to the crude sketch. As soon as we trust in Jesus we are viewed as standing in Him and justified before the Law; but before us lies the great work of assimilation to His perfect likeness by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

It is sin to come short, Romans 3:23; and who among us has fulfilled his possibilities of godlikeness? Romans 3:24; Genesis 1:26-27. Though justification costs us nothing but the sacrifice of our pride, it has cost Christ His own blood, Romans 3:25. The propitiatory, or mercy seat, was the golden lid of the Ark which the high priest sprinkled with blood. See Hebrews 9:5. Faith has no room in her household for vaunting and boasting, Romans 3:27. The Law is best honored when the Lawgiver, dwelling within us, fulfills it through us. [source]

Chapter Summary: Romans 3

¹  The Jews prerogative;
³  which they have not lost;
⁹  howbeit the law convinces them also of sin;
²⁰  therefore no one is justified by the law;
²⁸  but all, without difference, by faith, only;
³¹  and yet the law is not abolished