Engaging Only Christ

Word, Heart & Mind #463 Romans 3:27-29

Audio Version

Romans 3:27-29

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,

Paul has already mentioned “boasting” twice in Romans, and neither reference is positive. In Romans 2:17, Jews relied on the law and boasted pridefully in God, and in 2:23, they boasted in the law but dishonored God by breaking the law. Scripture has much to say about boasting, and none of it is good except when we boast in the Lord (see 2 Corinthians 10:17). This boasting only means living with a God-given confidence. Anything we have that is boast-worthy is not ours at all, but what God has given to us. So we, as children of the Lord, should walk uprightly, confident, humble, and assured of our redemption and promise. If we boast at all, it will be to give God the glory for these things.

Paul deconstructs the position of the Jews who believed their salvation lay in their heritage and possession of the Law. They boasted of being chosen by God, but their boasting was self-praise, expressed in extravagant speech and excessive pride. Their perceived righteousness was from within, not from faith in Christ. When we stand before Christ and are judged, everything we boasted about and thought was righteous will be excluded, left outside like yesterday’s trash, never considered of any value. We will have nothing to stand on except our faith in Christ. Without that, we will have nothing. If a Law of works had any authority, our works for righteousness might be of some value, but Paul asks whether we are justified by a law of works. No, but by the law of faith. The Law of works only has the power to show our guilt.

Many years ago, I visited my grandfather’s farm. I enjoyed exploring the barns and farm equipment. They seemed to be lying around, useless. Grandpa had a 1950 Allis-Chalmers tractor, and I loved standing alongside it. The tires were taller than me, and touching the giant engine was always exciting and a little intimidating. On the back of the tractor was something Grandpa called a PTO, a Power Take-Off used to attach different implements. His plow, harrow, seed drill, cultivator, baler, and harvester were worthless hulks of metal until Grandpa engaged them with the PTO connection, and they came to life! They needed a power source.

The gospel message declares that we are justified by faith apart from works of the law. Regardless of our performance in Law-keeping, we are condemned. Our salvation comes from a separate power. The power of the Law is disengaged. Our faith in Christ justifies us because obedient faith engages us with the power of the blood of Christ instead of the powerless Law (works-based salvation). The most powerful example of this, Paul states, is that anyone who depends on good works to go to heaven, Jew or Gentile, remains unrighteous and will be lost. God is the God of all mankind and saves only those who confess sin, repent, and declare their ongoing trust in Christ.

God is completely impartial; we do not have to meet any criteria for acceptance other than trusting Him for forgiveness and receiving new life. We become His adopted child. He accepts us just as we are, and we inherit all that is His through no merit or good deed of our own.

Matthew 6:1 Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.