“Where Is Boasting?” (Romans 3:27–31)

“Where Is Boasting?” (Romans 3:27–31)

Pastor Cameron Jungels

Eastside Baptist Church

Sunday AM, July 9, 2017

 

Romans 3:21–31 (NIV)

²¹ But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. ²² This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, ²³ for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, ²⁴ and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. ²⁵ God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished—²⁶ he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.

²⁷ Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. Because of what law? The law that requires works? No, because of the law that requires faith. ²⁸ For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law. ²⁹ Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too, ³⁰ since there is only one God, who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith. ³¹ Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Not at all! Rather, we uphold the law.

 

1. Since righteousness is based on grace through faith in what God has accomplished in Christ and not on human works or merit, boasting is completely ruled out (v. 27–28). (The gospel of justification by faith alone humbles sinners and excludes boasting.)

 

2. The oneness and exclusivity of God demands that Jews and Gentiles are justified in the same way: by faith (vv. 29–30). (The gospel of justification by faith alone unites believers and excludes discrimination.)

 

3. Faith does not nullify the Law, but establishes it. It does this by causing the ethical commands of the Law to be fulfilled in us through faith. (The gospel of justification by faith alone upholds the law and excludes antinomianism.)