Feb. 23, 2003
Northwest Bible Church Worship Service, Alan Conner

Rom. 3:27-31
The Results of Justification

INTRO
I. Introduction (1:1-15).
II. Theme (1:16-17).
III. Sin (1:18-3:20).
IV. Justification by faith (3:21-5:21).
A. God’s righteousness comes by grace alone through faith alone in Jesus Christ (3:21-31).

There are consequences to every theological teaching. What you believe about God will have major consequences and results in the way you live your life.

I. NO BOASTING (vv. 27-28).

A. Boasting is excluded by a law of faith (v. 27).

1) A "law of works" would promote boasting, not exclude it.

2) A "law of faith" excludes all boasting.

a) "exclude" =

b) "law of faith" = either 1) principle of faith, or 2) the OT law’s teaching on the importance of faith (Rom. 1:17;4:3; 9:32-33).

B. The reason why no boasting is allowed (v. 28).

"We maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from the works of the Law." (cf. 3:20)

1) Justification cannot be obtained by the works of the law.

2) Justification is by faith "alone," apart from the works of the law.

3) Thus, no boasting on the part of the justified sinner.

Works of the law produce boasting, faith rules out all boasting.

Boasting = to puff oneself up in speech, to call attention to ourselves, our accomplishments, our virtues, our abilities. Boasting is natural because self-love and self-centeredness is natural.

We boast about everything.

Biblical boasting is boasting in the Lord:

II. NO PARTIALITY WITH GOD (vv. 29-30).

"Is God the God of the Jews only?"

"by faith" - - - - - "through faith" - What’s the difference?

Reference to Shema in Rom. 3:20, "God . . . is one."

III. NO NULLIFYING OF THE LAW (v. 31).

The law cannot justify, but the law is not worthless. It is not totally abolished. The law bears witness of God’s plan to justify by faith and not works, so the gospel establishes the law. Chapter four will show how.
In other places, Paul teaches that the law leads to Christ and that the law still offers divine guidance for living a life that pleases God. Its moral laws are still valid and can be followed by the help of the Spirit (Rom. 8:4), not for justification, but for sanctification.

CONCLUSION

Salvation is entirely of the Lord so there can be no boasting. All must be saved the same way, BY FAITH. The Law of God is not abused or nullified in the process.

God does everything. We do nothing. All glory goes to Him.