John Calvin Commentary Romans 3:31

"Do we then make the law of none effect through faith? God forbid: nay, we establish the law." — Romans 3:31 (ASV)

Do we then make, etc. When the law is opposed to faith, the flesh immediately suspects some conflict, as if the one were opposed to the other. This false notion prevails, especially among those who have wrong ideas about the law and, leaving the promises, seek nothing else through it but righteousness by works.

For this reason, not only Paul but our Lord Himself was slandered by the Jews, as though in all His preaching He aimed at the abolition of the law. This is why He made this protest:

“I came not to undo, but to fulfill the law.” (Matthew 5:17).

This suspicion concerns both the moral and the ceremonial law. For since the gospel has put an end to the Mosaic ceremonies, it is thought to have a tendency to destroy the entire Mosaic dispensation.

Furthermore, as it sweeps away all righteousness by works, it is believed to oppose all those testimonies of the law by which the Lord has declared that He has, through it, prescribed the way of righteousness and salvation. Therefore, I understand Paul’s defense to apply not only to ceremonies, nor only to the commandments called moral, but to the whole law universally.

For the moral law is, in reality, confirmed and established through faith in Christ, because it was given for this purpose: to lead people to Christ by showing them their iniquity. Without this, it cannot be fulfilled, and it will vainly require what ought to be done. Nor can it do anything but irritate lust more and more, and so finally increase their condemnation.

But when one comes to Christ, there is first found in Him the perfect righteousness of the law, which becomes ours by imputation; and then there is sanctification, by which our hearts are prepared to keep the law. It is indeed done imperfectly, but there is an aiming at the work.

The case is similar with ceremonies, which indeed cease and vanish when Christ comes, but they are, in reality, confirmed by Him. For when they are viewed in themselves, they are empty and shadowy images; only when their purpose is regarded do they attain anything real and substantial.

Their chief confirmation, then, consists in this: they have obtained their fulfillment in Christ. Let us then also keep in mind to present the gospel so that by our manner of teaching the law may be confirmed. But let it be sustained by no other strength than that of faith in Christ.