But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it—
21. But now without the law, etc. It is not certain for what distinct reason he calls that the righteousness of God, which we obtain by faith; whether it be, because it can alone stand before God, or because the Lord in his mercy confers it on us. As both interpretations are suitable, we contend for neither.
Man in his corrupted state can never gain acceptance with God by any works of his own. If we had never sinned, obedience would have saved us; but having sinned, nothing we do can atone for our guilt. All justification is resolved into the free grace of God through Christ alone, received by faith.
AI summary
Commenting on Romans 3:19-31
Whom God had set forth to be a propitiation,.... Redemption by Christ is here further explained, by his being "a propitiation": which word may design either Christ the propitiator, the author of peace and reconciliation; or the propitiatory sacrifice, by which he is so; and both in allusion to the mercy seat, which was a type of him as such.