Romans 3:24

being justified A present tense; indicating a constant procedure, in the case of successive individuals.

freely Lit. gratis, gift-wise. Same word as John 15:25 ("without a cause," E. V.); 2 Corinthians 11:7; Galatians 2:21 ("in vain," E. V.; i.e., "without equivalent result"); 2 Thessalonians 3:8 ("for nought"); Revelation 21:6; Revelation 22:17.

The word here expresses with all the force possible the entire absence of human merit in the matter of justification.

grace The loving favour of God, uncaused by anything external to Himself. For explanatory phrases specially to the point here, see Romans 5:15; Romans 5:17; Romans 6:14-15; Ephesians 2:8-9.

through the redemption The Divine Grace, because Divine and therefore holy, acts only in the channelof the Work of Christ. "Redemption:" this word, and the corresponding Gr., specially denote "deliverance as the result of ransom." There are cases where its reference is less special, e.g. Hebrews 11:35. But the context here makes its strict meaning exactly appropriate; the sacrifice, the blood, of the Saviour is the ransom of the soul. See for a similar context the following passages, where the same Gr. word, or one closely cognate, occurs: Matthew 20:28; Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 1:14; Titus 2:14; Hebrews 9:15; 1 Peter 1:18. See below on Romans 8:23 for another reference of the word.

in Christ Jesus It resides in Him, as the immediate procuring cause; for He "became unto us Redemption," 1 Corinthians 1:30. To Him man must look for it; in Him he must find it.