ONLY GRACE, ONLY FAITH
Play Audio
If you prefer listening to today’s Bible guide reading, play this audio file.
If the audio bar is not appearing, click here to play the audio.
Opening Prayer
King of all Kings, rule in my every thought and action that I might bring you glory today.
Read ROMANS 3:21—31
For additional translations of the passage, use this link to Bible Gateway.
Romans
Romans 3
21 But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify.
22 This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile,
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.
25 God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished—
26 he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.
27 Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. Because of what law? The law that requires works? No, because of the law that requires faith.
28 For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.
29 Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too,
30 since there is only one God, who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith.
31 Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Not at all! Rather, we uphold the law.
Reflect
‘To God be the glory! Great things he has done! / So loved he the world that he gave us his Son … / and opened the life-gate that all may go in.’1
After the gloom of yesterday’s conclusion—‘all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God’ (vv. 10—12, 20, 23, emphasis added)—Paul comes to the glorious solution: ‘righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe’ (v. 22, emphasis added). Now, there is a new way! We were under the judgment of the law; now we are ‘justified freely’ by God’s grace’ (v. 24). This is God’s gift to us, brought about through the obedient self-giving of his only Son, Christ Jesus (vv. 24, 25).2 He has been given as the once-for-all sacrifice for our atonement.3 We are redeemed! Like slaves set free! God has paid the price for our sin through the sacrifice of Jesus (v. 25). God is both just (Christ died for our sin) and the justifier of those who have faith in Jesus (v. 26)—there is no other way to be put right with God.
Who has any right to boast then (v. 27)? It was hard for Jewish Christians: they were the chosen people; they had been given the law. Now, however, there was a new law—the law of faith. Whoever you are, deeds can never make you right with God; all humankind are equal before him (v. 29). Whether you have followed the religious rites or not, it is only faith in Christ that justifies (vv. 26, 30). So, was Paul saying the old law is of no value? No! God’s law is fulfilled, on our behalf, in Christ (v. 31).4
What about us today? Is God only the God of people like us (v. 29)? Do we sometimes find ourselves wanting to exclude others from God’s grace? Paul makes it clear. Whoever you are, we are made righteous only by God’s grace and by faith in Jesus (v. 24).
Apply
We live in a complex time, like the multicultural world of Paul’s original listeners. How might we and our church bear faithful testimony to a God who welcomes all?
Closing prayer
Thank you, Holy Spirit, for the gift of faith in Christ. Help me so that my attitudes, words, and actions humbly yet boldly proclaim who he is to everyone around me.
1 ‘To God Be the Glory’, Fanny Crosby, 1875 2 Eph 2:8 3 Lev 16:15, 16; Heb 9:11—15; 26b—28 4 Matt 5:17—20.
Book and Author Intros
Extras
Click here to sign up to receive the EXTRAs via email each quarter.
© 2026 Scripture Union U.S.A. All rights reserved. Reproduction of the whole or any part of the contents without written permission is prohibited.
Encounter with God is published in the USA under license from Scripture Union England and Wales, Trinity House, Opal Court, Opal Drive, Fox Milne, Milton Keynes, MK15 0DF.