Romans Chapter 3 Vs. 27

 

The Righteousness of God Through Faith

Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. Rom 3:27

Where is boasting... Questions 21-23. Next, Rom. 3:29.

Here (Rom. 3:27-28) we have the second dialogue between Paul and the Jew. Paul has been proving from Rom. 3:9 that the Jews are as guilty and condemned as the Gentiles and that both must be saved by the redemption in Christ. The Jew, finding his boasted religion of Rom. 2:17-29 of no merit at all to save his soul, interrupts (as Paul anticipates) and asks, "Where does our boasting come in with such a program of salvation without works and the law? Have we no merit of our own? Do we not have anything accruing to us from our 1,700 years of circumcision and the Mosaic covenant?" Paul answers, "It is completely out-your boasting." The Jew responds, "By what law? of works?" Paul says, "By the law of faith-you have sinned and you need forgiveness. The law of works cannot pardon. It requires obedience and only kills if transgressed. Faith alone in Christ will pardon and cancel the death penalty" (Rom. 3:27-28; Eph. 2:8-9).

Ten things that people boast about:

bargains (Pro. 20:14); security (Pro. 27:1); religion (Rom. 2:17-29); strength (1Sam. 17:8-10); conquest (Isa. 10:8-16); gifts (Pro. 25:14); riches (Psm. 49:6); sins (Psm. 94:4); plans (Jas. 4:13-17); and power (Luke 10:17). The only boasting allowed is "in the Lord" (2Cor. 10:12-18).

After explaining God’s provided righteousness for sinners, Paul considered five questions (in Gr.) which he anticipated his readers might ask. Two are in Rom. 3:27. The first is, Where, then is boasting? How can Jews have any boasting in their special position? (Rom. 2:17-20, 2:23) Paul’s response was abrupt: It is excluded (“completely shut out”).

Since justification is by grace (Rom. 3:24) through faith (Rom. 3:22, 3:25-26), boasting because of one’s accomplishments (works) is ruled out.

This prompted a second question: On what principle? (“Law” here in the Gr. means “principle.”) On that of observing the Law? (lit., “through works”) Paul’s response was, No (lit., “not at all,” an intensive form), but on that of faith.

God disdained human wisdom, not only by disallowing it as a means to knowing Him, but also by choosing to save the lowly. He does not call to salvation many whom the world would call wise, mighty and noble.

Ephesians 2:8-10 “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God:” “Not of works, lest any man should boast.” “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

God’s wisdom is revealed to the foolish, weak, and common. i.e., those considered nothing by the elite, who trust in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. God clearly received all the credit and the glory for causing such lowly ones to know Him and the eternal truths of His heavenly kingdom.

No saved sinner can boast that he has achieved salvation by his intellect.