S) "27 Where then is boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith. 28 For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law."
Romans 3:27-28 (NASB)
O) This is a summary statement for a very dense passage (vv.21-26), wherein Paul describes justification by faith. He also describes the grace involved, as the faith is credited to us as righteousness, not earned as righteousness. This leaves us with the above verses. Paul is making a very clear point that we cannot claim our salvation as something we have done for ourselves. Because of that, we have no place to boast. We are not justified by what we do, because that would be earning justification, which we can never do.
A) Boasting is excluded. There is no more simple way to put it, than that. I cannot claim any part in my own salvation. The only difference between where I am in my faith, and where an unbeliever is in there faith, is the grace I have received. I am justified by a faith that was given to me in grace. This is a relief, on the days when I am struggling with sin a lot. This is a conviction on the days when I am being prideful about - anything. I am who I am, because God is who He is.
P) Father, on those rare occasions when I am seeing things more clearly, I am humbled by the grace You have had in my life. Open my eyes to see, and my ears to hear, so that I can more fully appreciate the gift of faith You have placed in me, and the justification in righteousness that is credited because of my faith in Jesus Christ. Help me to correctly convey Your grace to others. I want to clearly state, in all humility, that I did not justify myself. That all I have done on my own is try to ruin my life. Help me to correctly glorify Your name, especially when it comes to sharing the gospel and giving my testimony. Be glorified, and may Your will be done. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.
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