Romans 3:31
Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.
Romans 3:31
This verse asks whether faith makes the law void. Paul’s emphatic answer is “God forbid” or “By no means.” Rather, faith establishes the law. The relationship between law and gospel is nuanced: the law reveals sin and drives us to Christ; faith receives the righteousness that the law could not achieve. The verse reinforces integrity: genuine faith does not abolish moral standards; it upholds and fulfills them by redirecting allegiance and life to God’s will. The immediate context is the defense of the unity of grace and the law, and the assertion that the Christian life is guided by a robust, transforming faith that still honors God’s commands.
This affirms that the law remains valuable as God’s revealed will, but not as a path to justification. It does not undermine moral law; instead, it integrates it with gospel faith. The moral implications are clear: a life of faith will express itself in obedience to God.
Let faith shape your obedience. Rather than treating law as a checklist, let it inform your ethic under the guidance of the Spirit. When you read Scripture, seek the spirit of the law—love, integrity, justice—motivated by faith in Christ. In communities, demonstrate that grace empowers obedience rather than excuses lax living. Use grace as a motivation for living well, not as a license for harmful behavior.
Cross-References: Romans 6:14; Romans 7:12; Galatians 5:14; James 2:8