Sermons on Romans 3:21-31

Romans 3:21-31 Interpretation:

Faith, Grace, and Freedom in Christ (mynewlifechurch) interprets Romans 3:21-31 through the vivid analogy of a courtroom, where humanity stands guilty and Jesus steps in to take the penalty, likening Christ’s atonement to someone volunteering to take another’s death sentence. The sermon uniquely emphasizes reading the passage primarily to discover what it reveals about God’s character—His promise-keeping, foreknowledge, and desire for relationship—rather than focusing first on human application or moral instruction. The preacher stresses that God’s plan for redemption was not a reaction to human failure but was foreseen and determined before creation, highlighting the pre-existence of Christ’s sacrifice in God’s heart. The message also draws a sharp distinction between performance-based and faith-based approaches to God, using the metaphor of a “noose” of performance that the enemy tries to place around believers’ necks, and contrasts this with God’s focus on faith. The sermon further interprets the fulfillment of the law as something that flows naturally from faith, not as a prerequisite for justification, and uses the analogy of parental pride and performance in children to illustrate the futility of trying to impress God with works.

From Condemnation to Salvation: The Power of 'But Now' (MLJTrust) offers a distinctive interpretation by focusing on the phrase “but now” as a pivotal turning point in the entire biblical narrative and in personal Christian experience. The sermon treats these two words as a litmus test for genuine faith, suggesting that the ability to say “but now” in response to condemnation, doubt, or the accusations of the law is the essence of Christian assurance. The preacher also highlights the importance of seeing the gospel as God’s initiative, not merely Christ’s, and insists that the righteousness revealed in Christ is not a new idea but the fulfillment of promises witnessed by the Law and the Prophets. The sermon warns against a truncated, Christ-only focus that neglects the Father’s role, and it insists that the gospel must be understood as the culmination of the entire biblical story, not as a contrast to the Old Testament.

Justification by Faith: Abraham's Example and Assurance (MLJTrust) interprets Romans 3:21-31 (and its flow into chapter 4) by treating it as the “classical and undoubtedly the greatest statement” on justification by faith and the atonement in all of Scripture. The sermon provides a detailed, stepwise analysis of Abraham’s faith as the model for all believers, emphasizing five unique aspects: Abraham’s faith in God’s promise despite natural impossibility, his reliance on God’s bare word, his belief in spite of all appearances, his full assurance and persuasion, and his acting upon that faith. The preacher offers a nuanced linguistic insight by discussing the Greek text’s rendering of Abraham “considering” his own body (not ignoring the facts, but not being weakened by them), and uses the metaphor of faith as “unbelief kept quiet like the snake Neath Michael’s foot” to illustrate the ongoing struggle with doubt that faith overcomes. The sermon also distinguishes between intellectual assent and true faith, insisting that genuine faith includes assurance and certainty, not just agreement.

God's Righteousness Revealed: Grace Through Faith in Christ (David Guzik) interprets Romans 3:21-31 with a vivid medical analogy, likening Paul to a doctor who delivers a fatal diagnosis of sin, only to reveal the “but now” of God’s intervention as a dramatic, hope-filled turn. Guzik uniquely distinguishes between “by faith” and “through faith,” arguing that faith is not a meritorious work but the means by which we receive God’s righteousness. He also explores the Greek word “d?rean” (freely), emphasizing its use elsewhere in the New Testament to mean “without cause,” and thus, God’s justification is given without any cause in us. Guzik’s analogy of the “gold star chart” on a refrigerator is a fresh metaphor for the futility of trying to earn God’s favor through works, insisting that the chart must be “nailed to the cross.” He further clarifies “propitiation” as not just a religious term but as a substitutionary sacrifice, and stresses that it was God the Father who set forth Christ, countering any notion of an unwilling Father being appeased by the Son.

Faith, Grace, and the Power of the Gospel (Alistair Begg) interprets Romans 3:21-31 by drawing a parallel between Martin Luther’s spiritual crisis and Paul’s argument, highlighting the existential “but now” as a personal turning point. Begg uses the metaphor of the “flame” lit in Luther’s heart to describe the transformative power of understanding justification by faith. He also brings out the legal and slave-market imagery of “justification” and “redemption,” and offers a nuanced explanation of “propitiation,” focusing on the necessity of God’s wrath being satisfied by God Himself. Begg’s rhetorical questions—“Who needs to be propitiated? God. Who provides the propitiation? God.”—underscore the Trinitarian initiative in salvation. He also uses the image of angels “hanging from the ramparts” and prophets “standing on tiptoes” to illustrate the anticipation of Christ’s atonement in the Old Testament.

Faith and Righteousness: The Heart of the Gospel (Alistair Begg) interprets Romans 3:21-31 by again paralleling Luther’s journey with Paul’s, but adds the metaphor of the “sweet exchange” (from a second-century Christian writer) to describe the substitutionary atonement. Begg emphasizes that justification is not an experience within us but a legal declaration about us, and that redemption is liberation from slavery. He also highlights the dual alienation between humanity and God—our rebellion and God’s wrath—and explains propitiation as God Himself removing His own wrath through Christ. The sermon includes a memorable reference to John Stott’s summary: “God propitiates God,” and uses the image of the preacher’s role as one who urges people to believe God’s promises, not to make promises to God.

Romans 3:21-31 Theological Themes:

Faith, Grace, and Freedom in Christ (mynewlifechurch) introduces the theme that God’s promise of redemption was not a contingency plan but an eternal purpose, highlighting the pre-creation intent of Christ’s sacrifice. The sermon also presents the idea that God is not impressed by human performance but is moved by wholehearted faith, and that true obedience flows from gratitude and relationship, not from obligation or fear. It further explores the theme that guilt and shame are self-imposed burdens that faith in Christ is meant to remove, and that the law is fulfilled not by striving but by the natural outworking of faith.

From Condemnation to Salvation: The Power of 'But Now' (MLJTrust) develops the theme that the gospel is fundamentally a divine initiative—“the gospel of God”—and that salvation is reconciliation to God the Father, not merely forgiveness through Christ. The sermon also stresses the necessity of a “law work” (conviction of sin) before the gospel can be truly received, and that the gospel is the fulfillment, not the negation, of the Old Testament. The “but now” motif is presented as the existential pivot of Christian assurance, a protest of faith against all condemnation.

Justification by Faith: Abraham's Example and Assurance (MLJTrust) adds the theme that true faith is not blind or escapist but faces facts and overcomes them, and that assurance is an essential element of faith, not an optional extra. The sermon also explores the idea that faith is strengthened by considering difficulties but looking beyond them to God’s promise, and that faith is not mere intellectual assent but involves the whole person—mind, heart, and will. The preacher’s discussion of the Greek text’s nuance regarding Abraham’s “considering” his body adds a fresh linguistic angle, showing that faith is not denial of reality but trust in God’s greater reality.

God's Righteousness Revealed: Grace Through Faith in Christ (David Guzik) introduces the theme that God’s grace is not a supplement to human effort but a complete replacement, challenging the common misconception that grace merely “takes up the slack” where human effort falls short. Guzik’s linguistic focus on “d?rean” (freely) adds a new facet: justification is given “without cause” in the recipient, paralleling the way Jesus was “hated without a cause.” He also stresses the radical exclusion of boasting, not just as a moral point but as a structural necessity of the gospel—God’s way leaves no room for self-congratulation, which is why fallen humanity resists grace.

Faith, Grace, and the Power of the Gospel (Alistair Begg) presents the theme that the gospel is fundamentally a story of God’s promise, not human promise-making—a reversal of the religious instinct found in Greek and Roman religion. Begg also explores the vindication of God’s justice: how God can justify the ungodly while remaining just, a tension resolved only in the cross where God’s wrath is both satisfied and removed by God Himself. He further develops the idea that the gospel’s global scope (Jew and Gentile) is rooted in the singularity of God and the universality of faith.

Faith and Righteousness: The Heart of the Gospel (Alistair Begg) adds the theme of the “divine exchange” or “sweet exchange,” where the righteousness of one (Christ) justifies the many, and the wickedness of many is hidden in one. He also highlights the preacher’s role as not to demand promises from people but to urge them to trust God’s promises, and he critiques both self-justification and despair as forms of unbelief in God’s initiative.

Romans 3:21-31 Historical and Contextual Insights:

From Condemnation to Salvation: The Power of 'But Now' (MLJTrust) provides detailed historical context by explaining that Paul’s argument in Romans 3:21-31 is the culmination of a long section beginning in Romans 1:18, where Paul systematically demonstrates the universal guilt of both Jews and Gentiles. The sermon situates the “but now” as a radical break not only in the letter but in salvation history, marking the transition from the era of law and condemnation to the era of grace and justification. It also explains the Jewish understanding of the Law and the Prophets as authoritative witnesses, and the early church’s decision to retain the Old Testament as Christian Scripture, emphasizing the continuity of God’s plan.

Justification by Faith: Abraham's Example and Assurance (MLJTrust) offers historical insight into the Jewish objections Paul addresses regarding Abraham, circumcision, and the law, showing how Paul’s argument that Abraham was justified before circumcision and before the law was given dismantles the idea that justification is by works or ritual. The sermon also references the historical context of Abraham’s life, his age, and the cultural improbability of his having descendants, to underscore the miraculous nature of God’s promise and Abraham’s faith.

Faith, Grace, and the Power of the Gospel (Alistair Begg) provides historical context by recounting Martin Luther’s spiritual journey, his failed attempts at meriting grace through religious exercises in Rome, and his eventual breakthrough in understanding justification by faith through reading Romans. Begg also situates Paul’s argument within the context of first-century Jewish and Gentile relations, and references the Reformation’s spread across Europe, connecting the passage’s themes to the historical quest for assurance before God.

Faith and Righteousness: The Heart of the Gospel (Alistair Begg) similarly recounts Luther’s quest for assurance, his disappointment with religious observance, and his discovery of the gospel in Romans. Begg also references the broader Reformation movement and the apostolic proclamation of free forgiveness, situating Romans 3:21-31 as the rediscovered heart of the gospel in church history.

Romans 3:21-31 Cross-References in the Bible:

Faith, Grace, and Freedom in Christ (mynewlifechurch) references Matthew 22:36-40, where Jesus summarizes the law as loving God and neighbor, to illustrate how faith leads to the fulfillment of the law’s true intent. The sermon also alludes to Genesis (the fall and the promise of redemption), and to the story of Abraham in Romans 4 as an illustration of faith. Additionally, it references Jesus’ words, “If you love me, you obey me,” to reinforce the idea that obedience flows from love and faith, not the other way around.

From Condemnation to Salvation: The Power of 'But Now' (MLJTrust) cross-references Romans 1:16-17 (the statement of the gospel), Genesis 3:15 (the protoevangelium), the call and promise to Abraham in Genesis, the sacrificial system in Exodus and Leviticus, Messianic prophecies in Isaiah, Jeremiah, Daniel, and Zechariah, Psalm 22 (the crucifixion), and Luke 24 (Jesus explaining the Scriptures to the disciples). The sermon also references Galatians 3:16 (the promise to Abraham’s “seed,” meaning Christ), and 1 Peter 1 (prophets foreseeing Christ’s sufferings and glory), to show the unity of the biblical witness to justification by faith.

Justification by Faith: Abraham's Example and Assurance (MLJTrust) references Genesis (the story of Abraham and Sarah), Galatians 3:16 (the promise to Abraham’s seed as Christ), John 8:56 (Abraham rejoicing to see Christ’s day), Hebrews 11:1, 13 (the nature of faith and the example of the patriarchs), and James (the double-minded man). The sermon also alludes to the Psalms (David’s statement on justification), and to the story of Peter walking on water (Matthew 14:28-31) as an analogy for faith and doubt.

God's Righteousness Revealed: Grace Through Faith in Christ (David Guzik) references Matthew 10:8 (“freely you have received, freely give”), Revelation 22 (“let him take the water of life freely”), and John 15:25 (“they hated me without a cause”) to illustrate the meaning of “d?rean” (freely) in Romans 3:24. He also alludes to Acts 4:12 (“there is no other name under heaven by which we must be saved”) to reinforce the exclusivity of Christ as the means of salvation. Guzik further anticipates Romans 4, where Paul uses Abraham as an example of justification by faith, and references the Old Testament’s witness to righteousness apart from the law.

Faith, Grace, and the Power of the Gospel (Alistair Begg) references Genesis 15 (God’s covenant with Abraham) to show that faith, not law, has always been the basis of righteousness. He also alludes to 1 Peter (angels longing to look into the gospel), Isaiah 53 (the suffering servant), and Romans 4:5 (“God who justifies the ungodly”) to expand on the themes of promise, substitution, and justification. Begg quotes from the Westminster Confession to define justification and references 1 John (“the blood of Christ cleanses us from sin”) in his discussion of propitiation.

Faith and Righteousness: The Heart of the Gospel (Alistair Begg) references Isaiah 53 (“all we like sheep have gone astray… the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all”) to illustrate the prophetic witness to Christ’s atonement. He also cites Romans 4:5 (“God who justifies the ungodly”) and 2 Corinthians 5:21 (“he made him who knew no sin to be sin for us”) to support the doctrine of substitutionary atonement. The sermon also alludes to the story of the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8 as an example of someone needing guidance to understand the gospel.

Romans 3:21-31 Christian References outside the Bible:

From Condemnation to Salvation: The Power of 'But Now' (MLJTrust) explicitly references Martin Luther, summarizing his teaching as a continual protest of faith—“but now”—against all condemnation, and credits Luther with making justification by faith the central theme of his preaching and teaching.

Justification by Faith: Abraham's Example and Assurance (MLJTrust) explicitly references the Puritans and 18th-century evangelists such as John Wesley, George Whitefield, Jonathan Edwards, and Robert Murray M’Cheyne, noting their insistence on a “law work” before gospel proclamation. The sermon also quotes the poet Robert Browning’s line, “faith means unbelief kept quiet like the snake Neath Michael’s foot,” as a metaphor for the ongoing struggle with doubt in the life of faith.

Faith, Grace, and the Power of the Gospel (Alistair Begg) explicitly references Martin Luther’s spiritual journey and his role in the Reformation, using Luther’s own testimony of discovering justification by faith as a parallel to Paul’s argument. Begg also quotes the Westminster Confession’s definition of justification and cites a second-century Christian’s phrase “oh sweet exchange” to describe substitutionary atonement. He references hymn writer Cecil Frances Alexander’s “There is a Green Hill Far Away” to encapsulate the doctrine of substitution. Begg also mentions Augustine’s comment on humility and spiritual pride, and refers to John Knox, Latimer, Ridley, Zwingli, and Calvin as historical figures who spread the Reformation’s gospel message.

Faith and Righteousness: The Heart of the Gospel (Alistair Begg) again references Martin Luther’s biography and the Reformation, quotes the Westminster Confession’s definition of justification, and cites the “sweet exchange” phrase from a second-century Christian. He also references hymn writers (Cecil Frances Alexander) and theologian Karl Barth, recounting Barth’s famous answer that the greatest truth is “Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so.” Begg also credits John Stott for the summary “God propitiates God,” and references the Heidelberg Catechism.

Romans 3:21-31 Illustrations from Secular Sources:

Faith, Grace, and Freedom in Christ (mynewlifechurch) uses several secular analogies to illustrate the futility of performance-based religion. The preacher describes a hockey commercial where a father compares his child’s performance to another’s, humorously suggesting that a child not yet on skates won’t make it to the NHL, paralleling the way parents (and by extension, people) are obsessed with outperforming others. The sermon also references the competitive nature of parent-teacher conferences, where parents secretly hope to hear their child is outperforming peers, and the societal obsession with test scores and sports records. These analogies are used to highlight how deeply ingrained performance-based thinking is in culture, and how it distorts our understanding of God’s grace, contrasting it with God’s focus on faith rather than achievement.

God's Righteousness Revealed: Grace Through Faith in Christ (David Guzik) uses the analogy of a “gold star chart” on a refrigerator, familiar to parents and children, to illustrate the futility of trying to earn God’s favor through accumulated good deeds. He also references the image of a doctor’s office, with Paul as the physician delivering a fatal diagnosis, to dramatize the hopelessness of the human condition apart from grace. Guzik further uses the image of Robin Hood at an archery tournament to explain the meaning of “sin” as “missing the mark,” making the concept accessible through a well-known cultural figure.

Faith, Grace, and the Power of the Gospel (Alistair Begg) references the Beatles’ song “We Can Work It Out” to illustrate the persistent but futile optimism of human efforts to fix the world’s problems, contrasting it with the biblical diagnosis of sin. He also recounts a Wall Street Journal article titled “How Missionaries Lost Their Chariots of Fire,” which contrasts the missionary zeal of 1910 with the more humanitarian focus of 2010, using it as a cautionary tale about losing the centrality of the gospel in Christian mission.

Faith and Righteousness: The Heart of the Gospel (Alistair Begg) does not introduce new secular illustrations beyond those already mentioned in the previous sermon, but reiterates the use of the “sweet exchange” as a memorable phrase from early Christian literature, and the story of the Ethiopian eunuch as a narrative illustration of the need for gospel explanation.