Difficult Scriptures

Romans 3:28 - Does this say we don’t have to keep the law because we are justified by faith without the deeds of the law?
 
  1. Paul was saying that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law. He is not preaching that the law is done away. Being justified means to be brought into right standing before God. Romans 3:20 tells us that no man shall be justified by the deeds of the law. “For by the law is the knowledge of sin.” The law defines sin – it tells you what sin is – but it does not and cannot take away the penalty of previous violations. Obeying the law in the future does not pay for past guilt. If a man commits a crime, his obedience to the civil law in the future does not make him ay less guilty of his past offenses.

  2. Verses 24-25 of Romans 3 explain how we are justified. We are justified by God’s grace through the redeeming sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Christ was propitiation (a sacrifice that reconciles) for us to God. By His sacrifice our past sins are remitted.

  3. Once you are reconciled to God, you must keep the commandments if you want to remain justified (Rom. 2:13).

  4. Being justified by faith does not mean we do away with (make void) the law. On the contrary, we establish the law (Rom. 3:31). Once our sins are forgiven we are able to receive God’s Holy Spirit which He gives to those who obey Him (Acts 5:32). This Spirit gives us the love of God (Rom. 5:5) which is the keeping of His commandments (I John 5:3).
 
The Church of God, New World Ministries P.O. Box 5536 Sevierville, TN 37864