Commentaries and Other Bible Study Helps - Prayer Tents - Prayer Tents

3:27 Since salvation is accomplished through Christ's atoning death, all human boasting . . . is excluded. The word law in this verse probably means principle, though some think that a reference to the OT law is intended. If righteousness came through works, then human beings could brag about what they have done. But since salvation is through faith, no one can boast before God.

3:28 apart from. Justification is by faith alone and does not depend at all on doing any works of the law.

3:29-30 Since God is the Lord of all, whether Jews or Gentiles, there can only be one way of justification--by faith.

3:31 overthrow . . . uphold. Justification by faith does not nullify the law but establishes it. That is, the law itself points to the fact that human obedience to the law cannot save and that righteousness can be achieved only through faith in Christ; Christ has achieved this righteousness on behalf of all who believe in him, through his perfect fulfillment of the law and his atoning death on the cross for the salvation of all who believe. When Paul says, "we uphold the law," he also affirms the abiding moral norms of the law and thus anticipates the charge of antinomianism, to which he responds more fully in chs. 6 and 7.