"But if our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unjust who inflicts wrath? Certainly not!...Where is boasting then? It is excluded...man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law...since there is one God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith. Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law." (Romans 3:5,6,27,28,30,31)

This chapter is certainly a confusion if read without much thought. With some focus, however, some main ideas can be gathered. With first glance, it may seem unfair that God should inflict wrath upon those who demonstrate righteously. As the chapter unfolds, it is clear that the message is that we are not justified by deeds alone but by 'grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus' (Rm 3:24). And it is up to God's Sovereignty whether He chooses to inflict His wrath because under the law, 'there is none righteous' (10).

The law encourages good deeds, on the contrary, the chapter quotes that 'man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law' (28). By looking at this verse, it is easy to omit the rest of the Bible and proclaim that no matter what our deeds may be, we will be justified by faith alone. Many denominations claim that all their wrongdoings will be overlooked because of this verse. However, they fail to read further that 'through faith...we establish the law' (31). This translates to: Because of our belief in Christ, we go on to perform the good deeds. Therefore, the 'deeds of the law' (28) are a part of our 'faith in Jesus' (26) and not something to be omitted.

The conclusion to this 'totallay contradictory' but yet non-contradictory chapter would be to keep the deeds of the law because 'eternal life [will be] to those who by patient continuance in doing good...' (2:7). Yes, even though we are not directly justified by good deeds, Jesus exhorts us to 'let [our] light so shine before men, that they may see [our] good works and glorify your Father in heaven.' (Mt. 5:16). Having good works is an extension of our faith in Christ, therefore, 'those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works' (Titus 3:8). Just as sacrifice is part of the love Christ gave to us, the good deeds we perform is wholly because of our firm faith in God. Therefore, even though we are not justified by our good deeds only, those deeds will be counted in the eyes of God if we do it for the purpose of glorifying Him.