Justified by Faith

Romans 3:27-28

“Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. Because of what law? The law that requires works? No, because of the law that requires faith. For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law." Romans 3:27-28 NIV

Faith means that we can never boast of having achieved a right status before the Lord by anything we have done. We cannot look at our works and find anything at all that merits in any way the favorable verdict of our Creator. Instead, we must turn to Christ alone.

God is the Source and Giver of wisdom, and as led by the Holy Spirit, Paul argues logically and unquestionably that man is unrighteous, unprofitable, deceitful, destructive and ungodly by nature.

Our sin nature and the sins we commit have to be punished and Jesus took the full and final punishment that we deserve, but it is only and exclusively and unalterably by faith in the death, burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesus.

So, that we can be fully and forever be forgiven of our sins and placed in eternal union with Christ, by which we are brought back into a right relationship with our heavenly Father.

And so Paul concludes this  section of his clear and uncompromising presentation of the gospel of Christ by asking a simple rhetorical question, Where then is boasting? And immediately he gives the single and unalterable answer: it is excluded.

Boasting is excluded from our salvation. Meritorious works; kindly deed, humanitarian actions, financial contribution, painful penance and everything else that man may contrive to secure his salvation is excluded, for the one and only way to God is by faith in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Salvation is in Christ and Christ alone. For we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from works of law. Faith was credited to Abraham for righteousness and by faith the men and women of Hebrews 11 were all made righteous in God’s eyes, but it was all and only by faith.

We too are saved by grace through faith in the finished work of Christ, according as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be Holy and without blame before Him in love.

Where then is boasting? It is excluded. God forbid that I should boast save in the death of Christ my God. God's salvation leaves us no room for boasting. We couldn't live up to the righteous demands of the law.

If we want to boast, it should be about what God has done. Not just in our justification. But also in how he has used us since. It is human nature to want to take pride in our accomplishments. And we should indeed do our best in serving our Lord. But any boasting should be about what God has done rather than what I have done.

My life as a believer, from first to last, is one of faith. Of trusting God to continue the good work he began in me many years ago. I am a simple lump of clay, and God is the master potter. And it is God, the potter, who alone can rightly boast about what He has made.

When we are broken and sinful, God buys our salvation by sending Jesus and having Him pay the debt of our sin. We have nothing to boast about except the overwhelmingly generous grace of God and the incredible sacrificial love of our Savior, Jesus!!! 

Father thank You for this day and the redemption we have in Your Son Jesus. Lord open the Floodgates of heaven and let Your abundant blessings over my friend and family today. Lord thank You for redeeming us from the righteous judgment of the Law. Lord thank You for paying our debt for sin. Thank you Holy Spirit, for cleansing us and making us holy Thank you, God, for your incredible grace found through Jesus. Lord use my friend to show Your amazing grace to all today.

Father, we love You amen.