Romans 3 · Verse 24

Romans 3:24

Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
Romans 3:24, King James Version

Romans 3:24 in other translations

BSBand are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.
WEBbeing justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,
ASVbeing justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
YLTbeing declared righteous freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,
DARBYbeing justified freely by his grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus;
BBEAnd they may have righteousness put to their credit, freely, by his grace, through the salvation which is in Christ Jesus:
WebsterBeing justified freely by his grace, through the redemption that is in Jesus Christ:

What does Romans 3:24 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
24. justified freely--without anything done on our part to deserve. by his grace--His free love. through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus--a most important clause; teaching us that though justification is quite gratuitous, it is not a mere fiat of the divine will, but based on a "Redemption," that is, "the payment of a Ransom," in Christ's death. That this is the sense of the word "redemption," when applied to Christ's death, will appear clear to any impartial student of the passages where it occurs.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 24. Being justified. Being treated as if righteous; that is, being regarded and treated as if they had kept the law. The apostle has shown that they could not be so regarded and treated by any merit of their own, or by personal obedience to the law. He now affirms that if they were so treated, it must be by mere favour, and as a matter not of right, but of gift. This is the essence of the gospel. And to show this, and the way in which it is done, is the main design of this epistle. The expression here is be understood as referring to all who are justified, Rom 3:22. The righteousness of God, by faith in Jesus Christ, is "upon all who believe," who are all "justified freely by his grace."

Freely--δωρεαν. This word stands opposed to that which is purchased, or which is obtained by labour, or which is a matter of claim. It is a free, undeserved gift, not merited by our obedience to the law, and not that to which we have any claim. The apostle uses the word here in reference to those who are justified. To them it is a mere undeserved gift. It does not mean that it has been obtained, however, without any price or merit from any one, for the Lord Jesus has purchased it with his own blood, and to him it becomes a matter of justice that those who were given to him should be justified, 1Cor 6:20, 7:23, 2Pet 2:1, 1Pet 2:9, (Greek.) Acts 20:28, Isa 53:11. We have no offering to bring, and no claim. To us, therefore, it is entirely a matter of gift.

By his grace. By his favour; by his mere undeserved mercy. Rom 1:7.

Through the redemption--διατηςαπολυτρωσεως. The word used here occurs but ten times in the New Testament, Lk 21:28, Rom 3:24, 8:23, 1Cor 1:30 Eph 1:7,14, 4:30, Col 1:14, Heb 9:15, 11:35. Its root--λυτρον lutron--properly denotes the price which is paid for a prisoner of war; the ransom, or stipulated purchase-money, which being paid, the captive is set free. The word here used is then employed to denote liberation from bondage, captivity, or evil of any kind, usually keeping up the idea of a price, or a ransom paid, in consequence of which the delivery is effected. It is sometimes used, in a large sense, to denote simple deliverance by any means, without reference to a price paid, as in Lk 21:28, Rom 8:23, Eph 1:14. That this is not the sense here, however, is apparent. For the apostle in the next verse proceeds to specify the price which has been paid, or the means by which this redemption has been effected. The word here denotes that deliverance from sin, and from the evil consequences of sin, which has been effected by the offering of Jesus Christ as a propitiation, Rom 3:25.

That is in Christ Jesus. Or, that has been effected by Christ Jesus; that of which he is the author and procurer. Comp. Jn 3:16.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 24 Being justified freely by his grace - So far from being able to attain the glory of God by their obedience, they are all guilty: and, to be saved, must be freely pardoned by God's grace; which is shown to them who believe, through the redemption, απολυτρωσεως, the ransom price, which is in the sacrifice of Christ Jesus. The original is compounded of απο, from, and λυτροω, I redeem, and properly means the price laid down for the redemption of a captive. Comprehendit haec Christi απολυτρωσις, quicquid is docuit, fecit et passus est, eo consilio, ut homines malis liberati, praecipue peccato, malorum fonte immunes, veram felicitatem adipiscerentur. - Rosenmuller. This redemption of Christ comprehends whatsoever he taught, did, or suffered, in order to free men from evil; especially to free them from sin, the source of evils; that they might attain true felicity. And that it here means the liberation purchased by the blood-shedding of Christ, is evident from Eph 1:7 : We have Redemption, απολυτρωσιν δια του αιματος αυτου, Through His Blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace. See also Col 1:14, where the same words are found. Λυτρα according to Suidas, is μισθος, η τα παρεχομενα υπερ ελευθεριας, επι τω λυτρωσασθαι βαρβαρων δουλειας A reward; or the price given to be redeemed from the slavery of the barbarians. Schleusner, under the word απολυτρωσις, says, Negari quidem non potest, hanc vocem proprie notare redemptionem ejus, qui captivus detinetur, sive bello, sive alio captus sit modo, quae fit per pretti solutionem; quo sensu verbum απολυτροω legitur haud raro in Scripp. Graecis. No man certainly can deny that this word properly means the redemption of a captive, (whether he may have been taken in war or in any other way), which is procured by the payment of a price. That the word also means any deliverance, even where no price is paid down, nobody will dispute; but that it means redemption by a price laid down, and the redemption of the soul by the price of the death of Christ, the above scriptures sufficiently prove.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Romans 3:21-26

Must guilty man remain under wrath? Is the wound for ever incurable? No; blessed be God, there is another way laid open for us. This is the righteousness of God; righteousness of his ordaining, and providing, and accepting. It is by that faith which has Jesus Christ for its object; an anointed Saviour, so Jesus Christ signifies. Justifying faith respects Christ as a Saviour, in all his three anointed offices, as…

Read the full comment on Romans 3:21-26 →

Romans 3:24 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

δικαιούμενοιdikaioumenoibeing justifiedG1344
δωρεὰνdōreanfreelyG1432
τῇtēaby theG3588
αὐτοῦautouof HimG846
χάριτιcharitigraceG5485
διὰdiathroughG1223
τῆςtēstheG3588
ἀπολυτρώσεωςapolutrōseōsredemptionG629
τῆςtēsthatG3588
ἐνen[is] inG1722
ΧριστῷChristōChristG5547
Ἰησοῦ,IēsouJesus,G2424

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Romans 3:24

  • 1 Peter 1:18-19

    Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

  • Titus 3:5-7

    Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

  • Colossians 1:14

    In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

  • Ephesians 1:6-7

    To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

  • Romans 5:9

    Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.

  • Titus 2:14

    Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

  • Romans 4:16

    Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,

  • 1 Corinthians 1:30

    But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:

  • Matthew 20:28

    Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

  • Ephesians 2:7-10

    That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

  • 1 Corinthians 6:11

    And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

  • 1 Timothy 2:6

    Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
justified.
4:16; 5:16-19; 1Co 6:11; Eph 2:7-10; Tit 3:5-7
through.
5:9; Isa 53:11; Mt 20:28; Eph 1:6,7; Col 1:14; 1Ti 2:6; Tit 2:14
Heb 9:2-14; 1Pe 1:18,19; Re 5:9; 7:14

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Romans 3:23

    For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

  • Romans 3:24

    Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

  • Romans 3:25

    Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;

Read all of Romans 3

Romans 3:24 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Siendo justificados gratuitamente por su gracia, por la redención que es en Cristo Jesús;
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		– étant justifiés gratuitement par sa grâce, par la rédemption qui est dans le christ Jésus,
German
Elberfelder 1871		und werden umsonst gerechtfertigt durch seine Gnade, durch die Erlösung, die in Christo Jesu ist;
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Justificati gratis per gratiam ipsius, per redemptionem quæ est in Christo Jesu,