BIBLE QUESTION
Romans 3:28 — Justification by Faith Apart from Works
Romans 3:28 states plainly that justification is by faith and apart from works of the law; the surrounding verses explain why and ground this claim in God's righteousness through Christ.
Answer
Romans 3:28 reads: 'We reckon therefore that a man is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.' The verse draws a conclusion ('therefore,' GSV '그러므로') from verses 21–27, where a righteousness from God is said to be manifested apart from the law, witnessed by the law and the prophets, and received through faith in Jesus Christ (verse 22). The word 'therefore' ties verse 28 to that argument rather than introducing a new topic.
The verse makes one specific assertion: justification before God is grounded in faith, and it is set over against 'the works of the law.' Verse 20 already declared that 'by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified in his sight,' and verse 27 rules out boasting on the basis of works. Verse 28 therefore does not deny that believers do good works; it affirms that such works are not the ground on which a person is declared righteous.
Verse 29 immediately extends this to both Jews and Gentiles, and verse 31 closes the unit by clarifying that faith does not overthrow the law. In the passage's own terms, justification is grounded in Christ's atoning work (verses 24–26) and received through faith, while the law remains in force (verse 31). The question of how James 2 fits is not addressed by the text of Romans 3 itself.
Context
Romans 3:28 stands at the end of a unit that begins at verse 21. After cataloguing scriptures that show all people under sin (verses 10–18) and concluding that 'by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified' (verse 20), Paul presents God's alternative: a righteousness manifested apart from the law, received through faith in Christ, grounded in Christ's sacrificial death as a propitiation (verses 24–26).
Verse 27 raises the anticipated objection about boasting and answers it by appealing to 'a law of faith.' Verse 28 then draws the practical conclusion the whole argument has been heading toward, and verses 29–31 universalize it (one God for Jew and Gentile) and guard it against the misunderstanding that faith voids the law.
Related scriptures
- Romans 3:28 Cross-reference: the provided cross_reference is identical to the source verse itself. The note repeats the verse text and points readers to treat 3:28 as the summary statement of 3:21–31.
Common questions
Does Romans 3:28 say faith replaces obedience?
The verse does not say that. It states that justification is by faith 'apart from the works of the law,' and the immediately following verse (3:31) explicitly says that faith does not nullify the law but establishes it.
What does 'apart from the works of the law' cover in this verse?
The supplied text does not define the phrase further. Romans 3:28 itself only contrasts justification by faith with being justified 'by the works of the law'; it does not enumerate which deeds are in view.
Does this verse resolve the apparent tension with James?
Within the material provided (Romans 3), verse 28 only states that justification is by faith apart from works of the law and is followed by verses 29–31. The supplied text does not address James 2 or its relationship to Romans 3.