Romans 3

1Then what advantage does the Jew have? What good is circumcision? 2Much, in every way. To begin with, the Jews were entrusted with the very words of God. 3What of it? If some were unfaithful, does their unfaithfulness cancel out God’s faithfulness? 4Certainly not! Let God be found true, even if every human being is a liar. As it is written, “So that you are shown to be right when you speak, and win your case when you are judged.” 5But if our wrongdoing brings out God’s righteousness more clearly, what are we to say? Is God unjust, then, when he brings his wrath on us? I am speaking as people do. 6Certainly not! If that were so, how could God judge the world? 7But if my falsehood makes God’s truth shine out all the more, to his glory, why am I, too, still judged a sinner? 8And why not do what some slander us by saying we teach: “Let us do evil so that good may come of it”? Such people deserve their condemnation.

9What then? Do we Jews have an advantage? Not at all. We have already brought the charge that all, Jews and Greeks alike, are under the power of sin. 10As it is written, “No one is righteous, not even one. 11No one understands; no one seeks God.” 12“All have turned away; together they have become useless. No one does what is good, not a single one.” 13“Their throat is a grave left open; with their tongues they deal in deceit. Snake venom lies behind their lips. 14Their mouths overflow with cursing and bitter words.” 15“They rush to shed blood; 16wherever they go they leave ruin and misery, 17and the way of peace they have never known.” 18“The fear of God is nowhere in their sight.”

19We know that what the law says is addressed to those who live under the law. It is said so that every mouth will be closed and the whole world will stand accountable to God. 20No one will be declared righteous before him on the basis of works of the law. What the law does is make sin known.

21But now God’s righteousness has come to light apart from the law, though the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it. 22It is God’s righteousness through faith in Jesus Christ, for all who believe. No one is treated differently. 23Everyone has sinned, and all come short of God’s glory. 24Yet they are declared righteous as a free gift, by his grace, through the redemption found in Christ Jesus. 25God put him forward as the means of atonement, by his blood, to be received through faith. He did this to show his righteousness, since he had passed over the sins committed before, 26when God held back his judgment. He did it to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he would be righteous and also the one who declares righteous whoever has faith in Jesus.

27So what room is left for boasting? It has been shut out. By what law? A law of works? No, by the law of faith. 28For we are convinced that a person is declared righteous by faith, apart from 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 God is one. He will declare the circumcised righteous by faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith. 31Does this faith mean, then, that we do away with the law? Certainly not! On the contrary, we uphold the law.