May 3, 2026, Sunday School Lesson

Righteousness through Faith

Lesson Text: Romans 3:21-31

Related Scriptures: Romans 4:1-25; Galatians 5:2-6; Ephesians 2:1-9; 1 John 2:1-2; Exodus 344:6-7

TIME: A.D. 57

PLACE: from Corinth

Golden Text – “Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law” (Romans 3:28)

Introduction

This quarter, we first studied at length God’s wrath against sin before turning to see God’s wrath against sin as it was poured out on Christ on the cross. In Romans, Paul emphasized the problem in the first three chapters: everyone is a sinner, and the wrath of God is revealed against all unrighteousness. His readers might have begun despairing, but now, 3:21-31, Paul turned to the glorious solutions.

We are not saved by our good works but by Christ’s. He lived the perfect life we could not live, and He died the death that we deserved. He paid the penalty for our sins, and He offers grace to all.

Relish the text this week, as Paul carefully laid out the gospel that is the power of God unto salvation and explains how, though Christ, sinners can be declared not guilty. Marvel at God’s wisdom, justice, and mercy as He justifies the ungodly and yet remains just. Rejoice in the realization that we do not need to earn our standing before God. Christ has done everything for us!

LESSON OUTLINE

1. GOD’S RIGHTEOUSNESS DISCLOSED - Romans 3:21-23

2. GOD’S JUSTICE DEFENDED – Romans 3:24-26

3. FAITH IN THE FAITHRUL ONE - Romans 3:27-31

QUESTIONS

1. What did Paul say ws the purpose of the law?

2. What is the solution to the human predicament?

3. What two Old Testament examples did Paul later give of righteousness by faith?

4. What does the word “justify” mean?

5. What did the word “redemption” refer to in Paul’s day?

6. What image would Paul’s language have likely called to mind for his Jewish readers?

7. If taken in isolation, how could verse 25 be misunderstood?

8. How were Old Testament sins dealt with?

9. How can God be just to declare the guilty to be not guilty?

10. Why is boasting excluded?

ANSWER

1. Instead, Paul explained that God’s law was designed to silence every mouth of every human being (vs. 19) to produce an awareness of sin (vs. 20), and to ensure that all were held accountable to God (vs. 19).

2. The solution to the human predicament is both incredible and unexpected. Since no person could live up to God’s standards of holiness, God provided His own righteousness to satisfy the holy demands of the law.

3. Paul emphasized that Abraham had nothing to boast about since he had not been justified through the works of the law but through faith. Likewise, David wrote about the forgiveness of sins (vss. 6-8).

4. The word “justify” means “to declare righteous.” In Luke 7:29, the people “justified” God. That means they declared God righteous, not that they made Him righteous. But crucially, when God declares people righteous, He also makes them righteous.

5. For Paul, the word “redemption” referred to the concept of setting free an enslaved person through the provision of a ransom payment.

6. Paul used language that would remind most Jews of the Day of Atonement, when the high priest would enter the Most Holy Place behind the thick veil in the temple to place the blood on they mercy seat and symbolically atone for the sins of the people.

7. Verse 25 could be mistaken if understood by itself. Since Paul wrote that God had passed over former sins, one might get the impression that God simply winked at those sins committed prior to Christ’s redeeming sacrifice.

8. Paul’s statement that God exercised forbearance in passing over former sins does not mean that God ignored those sins. When God’s people sinned prior to Christ’s crucifixion, He temporarily passed over their sins, but He ultimately dealt with them all in the sacrifice and death of Jesus Christ, the true mercy seat to whom all must come for salvation.

9. Either way, Paul’s point is clear. All sins have been dealt with, so God can be just when He declares the guilty as not guilty.

10. Everyone who has ever been or ever will be saved cannot brag about any part of this process since everyone, whether Jew or Gentile (vss. 29-30), is declared righteous by faith and not by works.