The Bridge · Explore the Bible · Session 3 of 13

Saving Faith

Romans 3:21-4:5 · CSB

The Bridge · First Baptist Church Minden · September 20, 2026 · Taught by Rob

A right standing with God comes by faith alone.

Setting the Scene

Paul has spent three chapters proving everyone is guilty — Gentile and Jew alike — and that the law can diagnose sin but never cure it. Then comes the hinge of the whole letter: "But now." God has provided what the law never could. Paul then calls Abraham as his star witness: he was declared righteous by believing God, before circumcision and centuries before the law was given.

Passage — Romans 3:21-4:5 (CSB)

3:²¹But now, apart from the law, the righteousness of God has been revealed, attested by the Law and the Prophets. ²²The righteousness of God is through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe, since there is no distinction. ²³For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; ²⁴they are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. ²⁵God presented him as the mercy seat by his blood, through faith, to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his restraint God passed over the sins previously committed. ²⁶God presented him to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so that he would be just and justify the one who has faith in Jesus. ²⁷Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By one of works? No, on the contrary, by a law of faith. ²⁸For we conclude that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law. ²⁹Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too, ³⁰since there is one God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith. ³¹Do we then nullify the law through faith? Absolutely not! On the contrary, we uphold the law. 4:¹What then will we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, has found? ²If Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about—but not before God. ³For what does the Scripture say? Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him for righteousness. ⁴Now to the one who works, pay is not credited as a gift, but as something owed. ⁵But to the one who does not work, but believes on him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited for righteousness.

Key Truths

Point 1 — Falling Short (3:21-26)Everyone falls short of God's standard, so everyone needs Jesus.The standard is God's own glory (v. 23) — not a passing grade — so "no distinction" applies to everyone. Righteousness comes apart from the law, received through faith in Christ.
Point 2 — Finding Hope (3:27-31)We can never be "good enough" to make ourselves right with God.Boasting is "excluded" (v. 27) because justification came by faith, not achievement — and faith doesn't nullify the law, it upholds what Christ fulfilled on the cross.
Point 3 — Following Faith (4:1-5)God calls all people to accept His offer of salvation through faith in Jesus.Abraham was credited righteous by believing God (Gen. 15:6) — before circumcision, centuries before the law. His faith, not his résumé, is what God counted.

Key Doctrine

Salvation (Justification)

Justification is God's gracious and full acquittal upon principles of His righteousness of all sinners who repent and believe in Christ.

1 Corinthians 1:30 · Galatians 2:16

Worth Noting

Point 1"Mercy seat" (Gk. hilastērion) is tabernacle language — the gold lid of the ark where the high priest sprinkled blood on the Day of Atonement. Paul says Jesus Himself is now that place.
Point 2Paul's "one God" argument (vv. 29-30) reaches back to the Shema, Israel's daily confession — a single God can't have two different salvation plans.
Point 3"Credited" (Gk. logizomai) is an accounting term. Wages are owed and prove nothing about the giver; a gift is freely given and reveals everything about Him.

Memorize

Romans 3:23-24 (CSB)

"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; they are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus."

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