Romans 3 24

Romans 3:24 kjv

Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

Romans 3:24 nkjv

being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,

Romans 3:24 niv

and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

Romans 3:24 esv

and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,

Romans 3:24 nlt

Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins.

Romans 3 verses

Romans 3 24 Meaning

Romans 3:24 declares that humanity, though fallen and sinful, can be made righteous in God’s sight not through their own deeds but as a gratuitous gift from God. This righteousness, or justification, is received by His unmerited favor and is realized through the deliverance and liberation accomplished by Christ Jesus through His atoning work. It emphasizes that salvation is entirely God's work, freely given, and centered on Christ's sacrifice.

Romans 3 24 Context

Romans chapter 3 builds a climactic argument demonstrating the universal sinfulness of all humanity, both Jews and Gentiles (Rom 3:9-20). After showing that neither adherence to the Law (for Jews) nor natural moral conscience (for Gentiles) leads to righteousness, Paul asserts that "there is none righteous, no, not one" (Rom 3:10). This dire pronouncement sets the stage for God's divine intervention. Verse 21 begins to introduce God's solution—His righteousness, revealed apart from the Law. Romans 3:24 then introduces how this divine righteousness is applied to sinners: through God's free grace and the redemption accomplished by Christ Jesus. The verses immediately following (Rom 3:25-26) explain the means of this redemption—Christ's propitiatory sacrifice—and its purpose—to demonstrate God's justice in justifying believers. This verse is central to Paul's theology of salvation by grace through faith alone.

Romans 3 24 Word analysis

• being justified (Greek: δικαιούμενοι, dikaioumenoi): This verb means to be declared or pronounced righteous, acquitted, or cleared of guilt in a legal or forensic sense. It is not about becoming inherently righteous through effort but about being reckoned or accounted as righteous by God. This declaration brings a right standing before Him. The present tense indicates a continuous or ongoing state or process initiated by God.

• freely (Greek: δωρεάν, dōrean): This adverb emphasizes that the justification is without any cost or payment required from the recipient. It highlights the complete gratuity and undeserved nature of the gift. It signifies that there is no human merit or prerequisite for receiving it; it is purely by divine generosity.

• by His grace (Greek: τῇ αὐτοῦ χάριτι, tē autou chariti): "Grace" (charis) refers to God's unmerited favor, benevolent disposition, and active divine generosity towards humanity. It signifies God's self-giving love that provides salvation not on the basis of what humans deserve or do, but solely on His initiative and goodwill. It is the underlying cause or basis of justification. "His" highlights God as the source.

• through (Greek: διὰ, dia): This preposition indicates the means or instrument by which something is accomplished. It points to the pathway or conduit through which God's justifying grace flows to believers. It’s distinct from the source (God's grace) but explains the how.

• the redemption (Greek: τῆς ἀπολυτρώσεως, tēs apolytrōseōs): This term signifies deliverance, liberation, or emancipation achieved through the payment of a price or ransom. In ancient contexts, it referred to freeing a slave from bondage. Here, it signifies deliverance from the slavery of sin, its guilt, its power, and the condemnation of the Law. Christ's death is the ransom paid.

• that is in Christ Jesus (Greek: τῆς ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ, tēs en Christō Iēsou): This phrase indicates that the redemption is not an abstract concept or a general historical event but is concretely embodied and enacted in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Union with Christ—believing in Him—is essential to experience this redemption. His crucifixion and resurrection are the pivotal events enabling this redemption.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • being justified freely by His grace: This phrase powerfully undercuts any human claim to merit or self-righteousness. It establishes that salvation (being declared righteous) is entirely a divine gift, flowing from God's unmerited favor, received without any reciprocal payment or achievement from humanity. It underscores the profound generosity and sovereignty of God in salvation.
  • through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: This phrase specifies the precise means by which God's free grace is executed for human justification. It pinpoints the historical and divine work of Christ on the cross as the payment and liberation event. This highlights the indispensable role of Christ's sacrifice as the full and sufficient provision for deliverance from sin's bondage and its consequences.

Romans 3 24 Bonus section

This verse flows from Paul’s emphasis in Romans that God's righteousness (dikaiosyne theou) is revealed not in strict adherence to a law but through faith in Jesus Christ (Rom 1:17; 3:21-22). The "freely" and "by His grace" concepts stand in direct antithesis to any notion that human merit or works, including Mosaic Law observances, could justify anyone. This radical nature of God’s free gift of justification was particularly challenging for some Jewish audiences of Paul's time, who traditionally understood righteousness as attainable through strict adherence to the Law. Paul's message here dismantles any basis for human boasting, laying salvation's entire foundation on the person and work of Christ, received by faith. It sets the stage for further elaboration in Romans regarding Abraham’s justification (Chapter 4) and the abundant life in grace (Chapter 5).

Romans 3 24 Commentary

Romans 3:24 stands as a cornerstone of the Christian doctrine of justification by grace through faith. Following Paul’s profound declaration of universal sin, this verse announces God's merciful provision. It establishes that salvation is neither earned by human performance nor a negotiation but is a declaration of righteousness—a gift—originating entirely from God’s character of undeserved favor (charis). This justification is made possible only "through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus," meaning His sacrificial death served as the payment required to liberate humanity from sin's bondage, freeing us from its power, penalty, and condemnation. There is no middle ground: either by works or by grace, but never both. This divine provision allows humanity, though justly condemned by the Law, to be acquitted and brought into right standing with God through faith in Christ's accomplished work. It prompts gratitude, assurance of salvation, and transforms the motive for good works from self-justification to thankful service. For example, understanding this verse can transform one's struggle with guilt by highlighting God's complete acquittal, or it can reframe one's understanding of prayer, recognizing access to God is due to Christ's work, not personal worthiness.