AN APPRAISAL OF THE DOCTRINE OF SALVATION IN ROMANS 3:21-26 AND ITS HOMILETICAL IMPLICATIONS FOR CONTEMPORARY PREACHERS

Abstract

This paper presents a critical appraisal of the doctrine of salvation as articulated by the Apostle Paul in Romans 3:21-26, emphasising its theological depth and practical implications for contemporary Christian preaching. The passage, central to Pauline soteriology, declares the revelation of God’s righteousness apart from the law and its manifestation through faith in Jesus Christ. Through exegetical and hermeneutical analysis, the study explores the text’s grammatical, morphological, and semantic dimensions, including key terms such as dikaiosunē, apolutrōsis, and hilastērion. The paper evaluates the tension between divine justice and mercy, revealing how Paul presents Christ as both the means and the manifestation of justification. Scholarly opinions are critically assessed, drawing from leading commentaries and journal articles that engage divergent doctrinal interpretations of justification by faith. Furthermore, the study situates these findings within the homiletical context, examining how the salvific message can be faithfully and effectively proclaimed in a postmodern Christian environment often marked by moral relativism and spiritual apathy. The paper concludes that an accurate understanding of Romans 3:21-26 not only reaffirms the centrality of grace in salvation but also demands a renewed commitment to Christ-centred preaching that transforms the hearer’s worldview and moral life.