Where is the Boasting? Romans 3:27

Paul the apostle told the Jews in Rome, “all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Jesus Christ:”, and he added, “whom God has set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believes in Jesus. In chapter three and verse twenty-seven of Romans, Paul asked, “where is the boasting then?” where we read:

Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? No: but by the law of faith.

The verse begins, “Where is boasting then? It is excluded. ” Paul began with the words, “where” which means “”whither and in what place or locality “is boasting then” or “the act of glorying and rejoicing therefore, accordingly and consequently”? “It is excluded” or “boasting is shut out, turned out of doors and prevented”. Paul questioned who could “glory or rejoice” in themselves or their position because “bragging” is now “shut out and prevented”.

The verse continues, “By what law? of works? No: but by the law of faith.” Paul added the words, “by what law” or “through what sort or nature of grounds, means or reason does the rule producing a state approved of God”? “of works” which means “of business, employment or that which anyone is occupied”? “No” which means “not by any means at all” “but by” or “nevertheless and notwithstanding through” “the law” which refers to “the rule producing a state approved of God” “of faith” which means “the conviction that God exists and is the creator and ruler of all things and the provider and bestower of eternal salvation through Christ”. Paul rhetorically questioned “what sort of rule” or “employment” would allow for “boasting”, and he answered “none” except for the “rule of conviction that God exists, is the Creator and provider and bestower of eternal salvation through Jesus”.

When we think through these words of Paul, we see how all personal or collective “boasting” is eliminated because God is the “author and finisher of” “faith”. Having “the law” was inadequate. “Works” were inadequate, and only the “rule of trust and faith” in Jesus would qualify as the “appeasing sacrifice” for a relationship with God. No one could “boast”, and everyone should understand the God's provision of “faith” through Jesus is all that is required for “eternal salvation”.

Next time Paul tells the people in Rome,“a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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