What role does faith play in fulfilling the law according to Romans 3:31? Opening the Passage Romans 3:31: “Do we, then, nullify the Law by this faith? Absolutely not! Instead, we uphold the Law.” Key Idea in a Sentence Faith does not cancel God’s Law; it establishes it, because faith unites us to Christ—the One who perfectly fulfilled the Law—and brings the power of the Spirit to obey its righteous requirements. Why Paul Raises the Question • Paul has just taught that “a person is justified by faith apart from works of the Law” (v. 28). • Such a bold claim invites the objection: “If works don’t justify, isn’t the Law useless?” • Verse 31 answers that objection: the gospel of faith confirms the Law’s true purpose. How Faith Upholds the Law 1. By Pointing to Christ’s Perfect Obedience • Matthew 5:17—Jesus “fulfill[s] the Law.” • Faith embraces His flawless righteousness, proving the Law’s standards were never lowered. 2. By Satisfying the Law’s Penalty • Galatians 3:13—Christ became “a curse for us.” • The cross shows the Law’s penalty is real and must be met; faith accepts that payment. 3. By Internalizing the Law through the Spirit • Romans 8:3-4—“the righteous requirement of the Law [is] fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.” • Faith receives the Spirit, enabling the believer to live out what the Law commands. 4. By Revealing the Law’s True Goal—Love • Romans 13:8-10—love “is the fulfillment of the Law.” • Faith “works through love” (Galatians 5:6), turning the Law’s written code into heartfelt relationship. 5. By Vindicating God’s Character • Psalm 19:7—“The Law of the LORD is perfect.” • If salvation ignored the Law, God’s perfection would be questioned. Faith in Christ shows God is both “just and the justifier” (Romans 3:26). Linked Passages Worth Reading • Romans 4:3—Abraham “believed God,” prior to Sinai. • Hebrews 8:10—New-covenant promise: “I will put My laws in their minds and inscribe them on their hearts.” • James 2:17-24—genuine faith produces works, echoing the Law’s moral vision. Practical Takeaways • Trust Christ first; obedience follows. The order matters: faith births works, not the other way around. • Hold God’s moral standards in high esteem. Grace does not license sin; it liberates us to obey. • Lean on the Spirit daily; the same faith that justifies also empowers. • See the Law as a mirror that drives you to Christ, then as a guide that the Spirit writes on your heart. Closing Thought Faith and Law are not enemies. In Christ, faith honors every demand of God’s Law—both its penalty and its purity—so that believers can walk in genuine, Spirit-enabled righteousness. |
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