The righteousness of God is manifested without the law and comes by faith of Jesus Christ upon everyone who believes.
Romans 3:21-22 declares the righteousness of God is manifested 'without the law,' witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, and it is 'by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference.' Les emphasizes that believing is the only condition—'plus nothing.' Because all have sinned, there is no difference between Jew and Greek, and a person is justified freely by His grace.
Romans 3:21 — This is the verse that says the righteousness of God is manifested without the law and witnessed by the Law and the Prophets.
Romans 3:22 — It defines that righteousness as by faith of Jesus Christ and places it upon all who believe.
Romans 3:23 — It explains why there is no difference among people—all have sinned and come short of God's glory.
Romans 6:14 — It states the believer is not under the law but under grace, so sin is not to have dominion.
The Apostle Paul makes the contrast clear in Romans 3:20: 'Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.' The law does not justify anyone; its function is to reveal sin. In Romans 3:21-22, Paul then reveals that 'the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; 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.' Romans 3:23-24 gives both the human condition and the divine solution: 'For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.' Romans 6:14 applies this to the believer: 'For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.'
Les teaches that in Romans 3:21 the righteousness of God is manifested, or 'put into the spotlight,' apart from the law of Moses (Clip 3). He says the word 'manifested' means brought out into the light, while the Old Testament continues to bear witness to it (Clip 3, Clip 6). The law, Les explains, was never given to make a person righteous; its only purpose was to show man his sin (Clip 0). Les is emphatic that this righteousness is not man's righteousness and that human good works are not mentioned anywhere in the passage. The text says it is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all who believe—'plus nothing' (Clip 2). He contrasts the phrase with what the verse does not say: not 'repent and are baptized,' not 'keep the commandments,' and not 'join the church' (Clip 5, Clip 7). Les also stresses that this new arrangement does not contradict or dismiss the Old Testament. The righteousness is 'witnessed by the law and the prophets,' and everything dovetails together (Clip 1, Clip 3). He points to Romans 15:4, which says the Old Testament was written for our learning (Clip 6). And because 'all have sinned,' there is no difference between Jew and Greek; all are justified freely by grace through Christ's work (Clip 4, Clip 5).
When Les looks at Romans 3:21, he says the 'now' refers to believers no longer being under the law of Moses (Clip 0). The law had one purpose in Scripture: to give the knowledge of sin, not to produce righteousness. He then takes the reader to Romans 6:14, where Paul says sin is not to have dominion because the believer is not under law but under grace. The righteousness of God is manifested apart from the old legal arrangement, yet it is still witnessed by the law and the prophets (Clip 1, Clip 3).
Les consistently emphasizes the phrase 'upon all them that believe' in Romans 3:22. He notes that the text does not say 'them that repent and are baptized,' 'them that keep the commandments,' or 'them that join the church'—it says 'them that believe' (Clip 5, Clip 7). 'Faith is trust,' he says (Clip 5). This righteousness is by faith of Jesus Christ, and Les says 'plus nothing' can be added to believing (Clip 2).
No. Les says the righteousness is 'being witnessed by the law and the prophets,' showing that God's present arrangement dovetails with the Old Testament rather than flying in the face of it (Clip 1). He describes the word 'manifested' as putting something into the spotlight, and he says the Old Testament is still apropos for believers. He cites Romans 15:4, which says whatever was written earlier was written for our learning (Clip 6). Never should a believer throw the Old Testament away (Clip 3, Clip 6).
Romans 3:22 ends with 'for there is no difference,' and Les explains that the difference in view is between Jew and Greek (Clip 4). No one has an advantage, because the very next verse says, 'For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.' Being justified is therefore 'freely by his grace,' not by law-keeping or any human distinction (Clip 4, Clip 5).
The Law's Purpose and Not Being Under It
Les says the law's only purpose is to reveal sin, so the 'now' in Romans 3:21 means believers are no longer under the law of Moses; Romans 6:14 confirms this.
Righteousness Witnessed by Law and Prophets
Les sees Romans 3:21 as showing the righteousness of God apart from the law, witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, with nothing flying in the face of the rest of Scripture.
God's Righteousness Is Not Human Works
Les says man's righteousness and good works are never mentioned in Romans 3:21-22—only the righteousness of God, appropriated by faith and by believing, plus nothing.
'Manifested' Means Put Into the Spotlight
Les defines 'manifested' as being put into the spotlight and says the Old and New Testaments dovetail together rather than contradicting each other.
No Difference Between Jew and Greek
Les reads Romans 3:22-23 as showing there is no difference because all have sinned and come short of God's glory.
Believing Is Faith, Not Ceremony
Les notes the verse does not say 'repent and are baptized'—it says 'believe,' and faith is trust.
The Old Testament Is Still Apropos
Les says the righteousness without the law was based on the Old Testament writings and cites Romans 15:4 for their continuing value.
Nothing Added to Faith
Les contrasts 'faith plus nothing' with adding repentance and baptism, commandment-keeping, or church membership; the condition is simply to believe.
Romans 3:20: Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
Shows that the law's role is to reveal sin rather than to justify anyone.
Romans 3:21: But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;
The key verse: righteousness is manifested apart from the law, witnessed by the Law and Prophets.
Romans 3:22: 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:
Specifies how that righteousness is received—by faith of Jesus Christ upon all who believe.
Romans 3:23: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Explains why there is no difference: everyone has sinned.
Romans 3:24: Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
Gives the basis of justification: freely by grace through redemption in Christ.
Romans 6:14: For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
Confirms the believer is under grace, not law, so sin should not dominate.
Romans 15:4: For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.
Shows the Old Testament remains profitable for learning.
No. Romans 3:21 says this righteousness is witnessed by the law and the prophets. Les says the Old Testament is still relevant and dovetails with the New Testament rather than being thrown away.
No. Les says the verse says 'believe'; church membership, commandment-keeping, and water baptism are not part of the text. It is 'plus nothing.'
Because all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Whether Jew or Greek, everyone is equally in need and equally justified by grace through faith in Christ.
Watch the Teaching: Redemption Explained: From Law to Grace (Romans 3 & 6)