I have seen some Scriptures posted completely out of context. So I figured it would be fun to actually look at the entire context of Romans 3-5. to determine what Paul is really saying about establishing the Law in Romans 3:31. And I believe this study will really help cement the need for Christ and what the Law was for in comparison to Him.
How do we by faith establish the Law in Romans 3:31?
First let's check out Romans 3:30-31:
30since God is one—who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith. 31Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law.
Romans 3:31 is obviously not saying the Law establishes us, it is saying we establish it. This is a big distinction. It might appear to be saying we need to follow the Law in order to be established, but this isn't what Paul is teaching.
First Paul lays the groundwork in v30, with this statement, He "will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised by faith". Why does Paul use these terms? It's because circumcision is the sign of the Old Covenant between the Jews and God.
Genesis 17:10 "This is My covenant, which you shall keep, between Me and you and your descendants after you: every male among you shall be circumcised.
In v30 Paul has joined those in Covenant with God and those not in Covenant with Him. And put both groups under the need to receive the Savior by faith.
So we know that v31 can't be saying that the Law establishes us, it is saying that our faith in Christ justifies us and thus establishes the Law.
So how does FAITH establish the Law?
Paul explains this in the next chapter, Romans 4.
Romans 4:1 1What then shall we say was gained by Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh? 2For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God.
Paul continues his letter with another statement, works don't justify us before God. Not one bit. This doesn't mean that we don't have works, it means that faith is what justifies us, and then because of our new connection with God - good works are a result. The fruit of the branch reveals the nature of the Vine.
So then we see that works do not justify us. Paul drives this home with this statement here regarding circumcision.
Romans 4:11He received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. The purpose was to make him the father of all who believe without being circumcised, so that righteousness would be counted to them as well
So follow Paul's thought here. He's saying that the sign of circumcision came after Abraham had faith before he was circumcised. This is super important. Because it shows those who aren't circumcised can still be in by faith.
Now when Paul is saying the circumcised here, he's talking about the Old Covenant between man and God. And those who are not in it. We are not in it. Because we haven't been given the Old Covenant. We never were given it. When the Temple was destroyed the Old Covenant went with it. And the New Covenant was all that was left. We are His temples now.
And here is how faith establishes the Law, but the Law doesn't establish us.
Romans 4:13For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith. 14For if it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void. 15For the law brings wrath, but where there is no law there is no transgression.
The promise didn't come through the Law. It came through the RIGHTEOUSNESS of Faith. So if we try to be righteous through adhering the Law, faith is NULL and the promise is VOID. This is how we establish the Law. It was always because of Faith.
Even the entrance of the Law came through Faith. Abraham believed God and then God made covenant with Him. It was faith that came first not the covenant of the Law. And now that Christ has come the Law has served it's purpose.16That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his offspring—not only to the adherent of the law but also to the one who shares the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all,Paul isn't putting Gentiles under the Law. He's putting those under the Law under Faith. He's telling them look, you've followed the Law, but the Law never established anyone. We establish the Law through our Faith in Him! Because the promise must rest on GRACE so that it come to all through Abraham as the Father of our Faith.
How do we by faith establish the Law in Romans 3:31?
First let's check out Romans 3:30-31:
30since God is one—who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith. 31Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law.
Romans 3:31 is obviously not saying the Law establishes us, it is saying we establish it. This is a big distinction. It might appear to be saying we need to follow the Law in order to be established, but this isn't what Paul is teaching.
First Paul lays the groundwork in v30, with this statement, He "will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised by faith". Why does Paul use these terms? It's because circumcision is the sign of the Old Covenant between the Jews and God.
Genesis 17:10 "This is My covenant, which you shall keep, between Me and you and your descendants after you: every male among you shall be circumcised.
In v30 Paul has joined those in Covenant with God and those not in Covenant with Him. And put both groups under the need to receive the Savior by faith.
So we know that v31 can't be saying that the Law establishes us, it is saying that our faith in Christ justifies us and thus establishes the Law.
So how does FAITH establish the Law?
Paul explains this in the next chapter, Romans 4.
Romans 4:1 1What then shall we say was gained by Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh? 2For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God.
Paul continues his letter with another statement, works don't justify us before God. Not one bit. This doesn't mean that we don't have works, it means that faith is what justifies us, and then because of our new connection with God - good works are a result. The fruit of the branch reveals the nature of the Vine.
So then we see that works do not justify us. Paul drives this home with this statement here regarding circumcision.
Romans 4:11He received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. The purpose was to make him the father of all who believe without being circumcised, so that righteousness would be counted to them as well
So follow Paul's thought here. He's saying that the sign of circumcision came after Abraham had faith before he was circumcised. This is super important. Because it shows those who aren't circumcised can still be in by faith.
Now when Paul is saying the circumcised here, he's talking about the Old Covenant between man and God. And those who are not in it. We are not in it. Because we haven't been given the Old Covenant. We never were given it. When the Temple was destroyed the Old Covenant went with it. And the New Covenant was all that was left. We are His temples now.
And here is how faith establishes the Law, but the Law doesn't establish us.
Romans 4:13For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith. 14For if it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void. 15For the law brings wrath, but where there is no law there is no transgression.
The promise didn't come through the Law. It came through the RIGHTEOUSNESS of Faith. So if we try to be righteous through adhering the Law, faith is NULL and the promise is VOID. This is how we establish the Law. It was always because of Faith.
Even the entrance of the Law came through Faith. Abraham believed God and then God made covenant with Him. It was faith that came first not the covenant of the Law. And now that Christ has come the Law has served it's purpose.16That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his offspring—not only to the adherent of the law but also to the one who shares the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all,Paul isn't putting Gentiles under the Law. He's putting those under the Law under Faith. He's telling them look, you've followed the Law, but the Law never established anyone. We establish the Law through our Faith in Him! Because the promise must rest on GRACE so that it come to all through Abraham as the Father of our Faith.