In thinking through Paul's articulation of justification in Romans (e.g., Rom. 3:21-22), it is vital to see that Paul sees "a righteousness from God" given as a gift for those who are united with him by faith coming in consequence of Jesus’ obedience, death, and resurrection (e.g., 3:24-25; 4:24-25; 5:9, 12-21). In union with Christ, Paul's most fundamental soteriological category, the sinner is seen as righteous.
It is also vital to see that although faith is stressed at length in 3:27ff, it is not seen as a work. It looks to God and his grace in the crucified and risen Christ (e.g., 3:22, 24; 4:5, 4:24). In fact, faith itself is seen as God’s doing (note the passive verb in the Greek in 4:20). Faith alone accords with grace (4:16), because its nature is to look away to what God, not man, has done and freely gives.
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