Does Romans 3:31 suggest that the law is still relevant for Christians today? Text “Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Certainly not! Instead, we uphold the law.” — Romans 3:31 Literary Flow In Romans 3 Paul has just concluded that “all have sinned” (3:23) and that God justifies “apart from works of the law” (3:28). Verse 31 answers an anticipated charge that grace-by-faith makes the Mosaic Law irrelevant. Paul’s rebuttal—“Certainly not!” (Greek: mē genoito, the strongest possible negation)—frames everything that follows. Paul’S Argument Summarized 1. Law exposes sin (3:20). 2. Faith in Christ secures justification (3:22, 26). 3. That very faith validates what the law pointed to: perfect righteousness fulfilled in Messiah (cf. Romans 8:3-4). Jesus And Continuity Matthew 5:17-18: “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them, but to fulfill them.” Christ fulfills (plēroō) without annulling, echoing Paul’s same tension. Threefold Distinction Historic Christian theology distinguishes: 1. Moral Law—rooted in God’s character (e.g., Ten Commandments). 2. Ceremonial Law—sacrifices, food laws, priesthood shadows (Hebrews 9:9-10). 3. Civil/Judicial Law—Israel’s theocratic regulations (Exodus 21-23). Romans 3:31 chiefly addresses the moral core. Ceremonial and civil aspects reach telos (“goal,” Romans 10:4) in Christ; moral imperatives remain binding, now Spirit-empowered. New-Covenant Promises Jeremiah 31:33 anticipates a heart-written law. Hebrews 8:10 identifies this with the New Covenant in Christ. Thus the law’s locus shifts from stone tablets to regenerate hearts, not to the trash heap. Functions Of The Law Today • Mirror—reveals sin (Romans 7:7). • Restrainer—through general revelation and civil order (1 Timothy 1:9). • Guide—shows believers God’s moral will (Romans 12:1-2). Objections Answered 1. “Galatians says we’re not under the law.” Gal 3:24—law was a paidagōgos “until Christ.” Its condemning aspect is gone for believers (Romans 8:1), but its moral revelation endures. 2. “Colossians 2:16-17 cancels Sabbaths and festivals.” Yes, ceremonial shadows are fulfilled; Paul still cites moral commands (Colossians 3:5-14). Context distinguishes categories. Harmony With The Rest Of Scripture • 1 Corinthians 9:21: Paul is “under the law of Christ” (nomos Christou). • James 2:8 calls the moral core “the royal law.” • Revelation 12:17 praises those “who keep God’s commandments and hold to the testimony of Jesus.” Historical Witness • Didache (1st cent.): cites the Decalogue as binding. • Athanasius: “The law was fulfilled, not abolished, in the Savior.” • Westminster Confession (1647) 19.5: moral law “doth for ever bind all.” Practical Application • Justification: We rely solely on Christ’s finished work. • Sanctification: The Spirit writes the moral law on our hearts (Romans 8:4; Galatians 5:22-23). • Evangelism: Law still convicts the conscience, driving hearers to grace (1 Timothy 1:8). Conclusion Romans 3:31 affirms ongoing relevance. Faith does not discard the law; it places it on its intended foundation—Christ’s fulfillment and the Spirit’s internalization—so that redeemed people walk in obedience for God’s glory. |
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