No Place for Pride (Romans 3:27-31, Isaiah 63:7-14)
Rev. David Huffman, September 22, 2024Part of the Series On Romans series, preached at a Sunday Morning service
Romans 3: 21-26 is the single most important paragraph in the book and probably in the New Testament. It explains justification, reconciliation and propitiation. This is the passage that fueled the Reformation. All glory in salvation is unto God alone. In salvation, there is no place for pride; justification is by faith alone, not by a law of works, but by the law of faith. We are justified apart from works of the law.
Boasting stems from excessive pride. Do we rely on our own efforts and indulge in self-congratulations? Grace, or demerited favor, is connected with mercy, or not receiving what we deserve. Jews boasted in having the law and being better than the gentiles, who were excluded from the possibility of God's favor. The law was actually an act of grace, but having received this grace, the Jews broke the law continuously. The gentiles saw this disobedience; the Jews caused the gentiles to blaspheme God. The law of works in principle encompasses the method of keeping the law. The law of faith focuses on the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, embodying trust and commitment to Him. Faith is self-renouncing; there is no place for boasting. It is the same for Jews and gentiles alike. Psalm 63 refers to God as Lord of the nations. All other so-called gods are worthless idols (Psalm 96). There is no plan A and B. Salvation is all of faith. Circumcision was never a means of salvation; instead, it was and is a sign and seal. The law, however, is not null and void. The law points us to Jesus Christ. It is the standard by which we live our lives. God's commandments are binding. All of this displays the uniqueness of the Christian gospel. All other religions are works-based. Underlying these are the mistaken belief that man can save himself.
| Earlier: | Same day: | Later: |
|---|---|---|
| « Salvation by Grace Alone | None | Communion with God and One Another » |
Romans 3:27–31 (Listen)
27 Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith. 28 For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law. 29 Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, 30 since God is one—who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith. 31 Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law.
(ESV)
Isaiah 63:7–14 (Listen)
7 I will recount the steadfast love of the LORD,
the praises of the LORD,
according to all that the LORD has granted us,
and the great goodness to the house of Israel
that he has granted them according to his compassion,
according to the abundance of his steadfast love.
8 For he said, “Surely they are my people,
children who will not deal falsely.”
And he became their Savior.
9 In all their affliction he was afflicted,
and the angel of his presence saved them;
in his love and in his pity he redeemed them;
he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old.
10 But they rebelled
and grieved his Holy Spirit;
therefore he turned to be their enemy,
and himself fought against them.
11 Then he remembered the days of old,
of Moses and his people.
Where is he who brought them up out of the sea
with the shepherds of his flock?
Where is he who put in the midst of them
his Holy Spirit,
12 who caused his glorious arm
to go at the right hand of Moses,
who divided the waters before them
to make for himself an everlasting name,
13 who led them through the depths?
Like a horse in the desert,
they did not stumble.
14 Like livestock that go down into the valley,
the Spirit of the LORD gave them rest.
So you led your people,
to make for yourself a glorious name.
(ESV)