Does Romans 3:22 teach that God’s righteousness comes by faith alone, or by faith plus baptism, commandment-keeping, or church membership?
Romans 3:22 teaches God's righteousness is by faith, not by faith plus baptism, commandment-keeping, or church membership. The verse says it is by faith, not faith plus or faith and, and comes upon all who believe, with no difference between Jew and Gentile.
Les explains that verse 22 refers back to the righteousness of God in verse 21, and that it is by faith—not faith plus, not faith and. He explicitly contrasts the text with additions: it does not say upon all who repent and are baptized, who keep the commandments, or who join the church; it says upon all them that believe. He also stresses that this is not an easy believism. True belief involves understanding one is a lost child of Adam and believing Christ died, shed His blood, was buried, and rose again; then God makes that person His child and places him into the body of Christ. That is how one gets into the body of Christ—by salvation. The passage adds there is no difference between Jew and Gentile.
Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
More Questions
Does Romans 3:22 require repentance, baptism, or church membership for the righteousness of God?
Romans 3:22 does not say 'believe and repent, be baptized, join a church, or whatever else'—it only says 'them who believe,' so no one has the right to put additional requirements into the verse.
What does Romans 3:22 say is required to receive the righteousness of God?
The righteousness of God comes through faith of Jesus Christ to everyone who believes, and nothing else is added to that faith.
How is the righteousness of God appropriated in Romans 3:22?
The righteousness of God is appropriated to all who believe, and the text says it is to them who believe 'plus nothing'—no other condition is added.