Having proved that justification, on the ground of legal obedience or personal merit, is for all men impossible, Paul proceeds to unfold the me- thod of salvation presented in the gospel. With regard to this method, he here teaches, 1. Its nature. 2. The ground on which the offer of jus- tification is made. 3. Its object. 4. Its results.
I. As to its nature, he teaches, 1. That the righteousness which it pro- poses is not attainable by works, but by faith, vs. 21, 23. 2. That it is adapted to all men, Jews as well as Gentiles, since there is no differ- ence as to their moral state, vs. 22, 23. 3. It is entirely gratuitous, V. 24.
II. As to its ground, it is the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, or Jesus Christ as a propitiatory sacrifice, vs. 24, 25.
III. Its object is the display of the divine perfections, and the reconcili- ation of the justice of God, with the exhibition of mercy to the sinner, V. 2G.
IV. Its results. 1. It humbles man by excluding all ground of boast- ing, vs. 27, 28. 2. It presents God in his true character as the God and father of all men, of the Gentile no less than the Jew, vs. 29, 30. 3. It confirms the law, v. 31.