How does Romans 3:26 connect with Ephesians 2:8-9 on salvation by faith?

Grace on Display in Romans 3:26

“to demonstrate His righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and to justify the one who has faith in Jesus.” (Romans 3:26)

- God put His righteousness “on display” at the cross—He stayed perfectly just while making sinners righteous.

- The phrase “the one who has faith in Jesus” signals that faith, not effort, is the single channel by which this justification flows.

- Justice and mercy meet: every sin receives its full penalty in Christ, so every believer receives full acquittal in Christ.

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Side-by-Side with Ephesians 2:8-9

“For by grace you are saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)

• Romans 3:26 — God is “just and the justifier.”

• Ephesians 2:8-9 — God is the Giver of salvation’s gift.

Both declare:

- Salvation originates in God’s grace, not our worthiness.

- Faith is the sole means of receiving that grace.

- Works add nothing, so boasting is silenced.

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Shared Themes at a Glance

• God’s righteousness maintained (Romans 3:26) → God’s grace magnified (Ephesians 2:8).

• Justification “through faith in Jesus” (Romans 3:26) → Salvation “through faith” (Ephesians 2:8).

• Human merit excluded (Romans 3:27) → “Not by works” (Ephesians 2:9).

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Reinforcing Passages

- Genesis 15:6 — “Abram believed the LORD, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”

- Habakkuk 2:4 — “The righteous will live by faith.”

- Romans 4:5 — God “justifies the ungodly.”

- Galatians 2:16 — “A man is not justified by works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ.”

- Titus 3:5 — “He saved us, not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to His mercy.”

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Living Out the Truth

- Rest: Christ’s finished work satisfies every demand of divine justice.

- Receive: Faith simply trusts what God has already done, rather than trying to earn what He freely gives.

- Rejoice: Because boasting is excluded, glory goes to God alone and gratitude fuels obedience.