“But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile,” (Romans 3:21-22)

Part 1: Apart from the law there is righteousness.

Many times in the bible we read that faith, not acts associated with the Law, was attributed as righteous. The classic example being from Abraham. Abraham lived in a time before the Law, and exhibited great faith before he was circumcised. Paul’s argument then, is that if Abraham acted in a righteous way before the Law then the Law was not what made him righteous – it was faith. So it has to be true that God can assign righteousness apart from the Law, if one has faith.

Part 2: The righteousness is given through faith in Christ

Abraham didn’t achieve righteousness through himself, it was assigned to him by God. Today, righteousness can only be given – it is not earned. And the method by which God evaluates ones potential for righteousness is through their faith in Christ Jesus. We cannot do anything to impress the creator of the universe. We can only recognize our need for salvation and believe in Jesus, who is the only one that can save us.

Part 3: No difference between Jew and Gentile

If righteousness is given to us by God and never earned, than how can any one of us boast? We can’t. Boasting only makes sense when our own actions brought upon the reward. But in Christianity, the reward is salvation through Christ Jesus, which is available to all (Jew and Gentile alike). Today we might be tempted to think that this brand of Christianity is of higher stature than another. But the fundamental question remains the same, do you have saving faith in Jesus? If so, then there is no difference. We are all just different sinners in need of a savior, and faith is what unites us in Christ – nothing else.