| SUMMARY: | In introducing the second major part of his treatise, Paul first declares the main idea, namely, that a person is made just by God through faith in Jesus Christ apart from keeping the law. Then he outlines the three main ideas he will take up in this part of his treatise: justification comes by faith, not by keeping the law, justification is for Jew and Gentile alike, and justification by faith fulfills the law rather than nullifying it. |
| I. The Statement of the Idea | VERSES 3:21-26 | |
| A. The Righteousness God Requires of Man: | ||
| 1. Its Relationship to the Law: | ||
| a. Negatively: | But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, | (21a) |
| b. Positively: | being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, | (21b) |
| 2. Its Relationship to Faith: | ||
| a. The Object of Faith: | even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ | (22a) |
| b. The Recipients of Faith: | ||
| (1) Who: | ||
| (a) Statement: | for all those who believe; for there is no distinction; | (22b) |
| (b) Explanation: | for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, | (23) |
| (2) How: | ||
| (a) Manner | being justified as a gift by His grace | (24a) |
| (b) Basis: | through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; | (24b) |
| B. The Righteousness God Requires of Himself: | ||
| 1. The Action: | whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. | (25a) |
| 2. The Reason: | ||
| a. In the Past: | ||
| (1) Statement: | This was to demonstrate His righteousness, | (25b) |
| (2) Explanation: | because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed; | (25c) |
| b. In the Present: | for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, | (26a) |
| c. Conclusion: | so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. | (26b) |
| II. The Outline of the Coming Discussion | VERSES 3:27-31 | |
| A. First Issue: Faith or Works? (Discussed in 4:1-8) | ||
| 1. Part 1: | ||
| a. Question: | Where then is boasting? | (27a) |
| b. Answer: | It is excluded. | (27b) |
| 2. Part 2: | ||
| a. Question: | By what kind of law? Of works? | 27c |
| b. Answer: | No, but by a law of faith. | (27d) |
| 3. Summary: | For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law. | (28) |
| B. Second Issue: For Jew only or Gentile Also? (Discussed 4:9-25) | ||
| 1. Questions: | ||
| a. First: | Or is God the God of Jews only? | (29a) |
| b. Second: | Is He not the God of Gentiles also? | (29b) |
| 2. Answer: | Yes, of Gentiles also, | (29c) |
| 3. Summary: | since indeed God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith is one. | (30) |
| C. Third Issue: (Does Faith nullify the Law? (Discussed 5:12-8:13) | ||
| 1. Question: | Do we then nullify the Law through faith? | (31a) |
| 2. Answer: | May it never be! | (31b) |
| 3. Summary: | On the contrary, we establish the Law. | (31c) |