Rom 3:31 "do we then make void the Law by our faith? God forbid! In fact we establish the Law".
Really? Let me give you a typical interpretation of verse 31 that you often read and hear:
“Do we then make void the law through faith? No! By faith God gives us His Spirit. He gives us power. And we are able to keep the law by God’s power, and by keeping the law, we are establishing the law.”
That is a typical interpretation of verse 31. I would like to suggest that this is far from what Paul is talking about. I’ll give you three reasons:
It does not agree with the context.
It does not agree historically.
It does not agree with the grammar.
We need to be honest with every text that we read. Paul is not saying here that by faith we keep the law through the grace of God, through the power of God, and that way we establish the law. Let me explain each one of them.
First of all, contextually.
Paul is dealing with the doctrine of Justification by Faith in this passage. Yes, Paul has much to say in Romans on this doctrine of Sanctification, in chapters 6, 7, and 8. And Paul has much to say on the issue of Christian living, which must be in harmony with the law, in chapter 12 up to chapter 16. But here, in this passage, he is not dealing with the subjective experience of the Christian. He is dealing with the truth of the righteousness of God which justifies us apart from the works of the law. So the context won’t allow you to give you that interpretation.
Let us look at the second problem, historically
.
What do I mean that this interpretation disagrees historically? Well, it is impossible. I am going to make a statement first, and I will explain it, because I know that many will misunderstand me just making the statement:
“It is impossible for you and me to establish the law.”
What I am saying here, and what Paul is saying here, is that it’s impossible for you and me, and it has never happened in the history of the human race, or in the history of the Christian church, where any believer has established the law.
Now to explain that. What do I mean? What does Paul mean when he uses the word establish?
It means that the law is totally and fully satisfied with you. When every demand of the law on you has been satisfied, then and then only you have established the law. And that is impossible.
Let’s go to number three: grammatically.
You see, the word “faith” is the key state word in this verse, 31:
Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? [Some translations read: Do we then make void the law through faith?]
Now the word “faith” has more than one meaning in the New Testament. Paul is not saying here, “Do we then make void the law through
our faith?” He is not discussing the believer’s faith, which is one of the key definitions of faith in the New Testament. But he’s not discussing that, because, in the original, which is not in the English [translations of the] Bible, in the original, the word “faith” is preceded by
the definite article.
"The faith" refers to Christ. Therefore it should read as follows: "Do we, then, nullify the law by the faith (Jesus)?" No! Because, in Christ, the law has been established on behalf of you and me. That is what verse 31 says.
God doesn’t bypass His law to justify us. God holds His integrity to His law when He justifies me through His Son Jesus Christ. Because, in His Son’s holy history, God has met every demand of the law for you and for me. That is the “good news” of the Gospel.