Who Are You Boasting In?

Introduction:

-Introduce myself and family.

-Ministry Background

-Youth Alive Ministry

Transitional Story For The Sermon:

A turtle once wanted to spend the winter in Florida, but he knew he could never walk that far. He convinced a couple of geese to help him, each taking one end of a piece of rope, while he clamped his vise-like jaws in the center.

The flight went fine until someone on the ground looked up in admiration and asked, “Who in the world thought of that?”

Unable to resist the chance to take credit, the turtle opened his mouth to shout, “I did.”

In the turtles pride, he was boasting about his accomplishment and genius plan. During the Apostle Paul’s time, there were people, within the Roman church, that were boasting in their own accomplishments. In his letter, Paul addresses who we should ultimately be boasting in. If you have your bible our bible app, please turn to Romans 3, starting at verse 27. (Give summary of the first couple chapter for context of what Paul is writing)

Romans 3:27–31 NLT

Can we boast, then, that we have done anything to be accepted by God? No, because our acquittal is not based on obeying the law. It is based on faith. So we are made right with God through faith and not by obeying the law. After all, is God the God of the Jews only? Isn’t he also the God of the Gentiles? Of course he is. There is only one God, and he makes people right with himself only by faith, whether they are Jews or Gentiles. Well then, if we emphasize faith, does this mean that we can forget about the law? Of course not! In fact, only when we have faith do we truly fulfill the law.

(Prayer)

1.) Our Works Don’t Appease Our Sins:

New Living Translation Chapter 3

27 Can we boast, then, that we have done anything to be accepted by God? No, because our acquittal is not based on obeying the law.

Boast: the act of publicly displaying or proclaiming a satisfied contentment with one’s own or another’s achievements

The Roman church was starting to boast in their own works. Paul was addressing this in Romans 2 , specifically the Jews, who were putting their faith in their works (circumcision and obeying the law). Interesting enough, Paul states that they are boasting in their works to receive praise. Jesus also called out the religious leaders for boasting in their works. (Matthew 23)

On the day of judgement, “I” statements will not get you into heaven.

Example: God I Did……

I gave X amount of money.

I had perfect church attendance.

I got baptised when I was born.

I served in X church ministry.

New Living Translation Chapter 7

21 “Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. 22 On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ 23 But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’

We do not have eternal life on the basis of our works. We have eternal life on the basis of Jesus Christ’s work.

(The Criminals and Jesus)

2.) We Are Made Right By Our Faith In Jesus Christ:

New Living Translation Chapter 3

It is based on faith. 28 So we are made right with God through faith and not by obeying the law.

29 After all, is God the God of the Jews only? Isn’t he also the God of the Gentiles? Of course he is. 30 There is only one God, and he makes people right with himself only by faith, whether they are Jews or Gentiles.

Faith: Strong confidence in and reliance upon someone or something.

Challenge: Who or what are you putting your faith in?

(Personal Testimony: I use to put my faith in women, alcohol, and success all because I thought I wasn’t love.)

The enemy will try do everything he can to deceive us that we can put our faith in things of this world, but I have learned that Jesus is the One who gives us true strength, wisdom, and confidence, no matter the circumstances in our lives.

Why? Because Jesus has kept every promise so far and will, in His perfect timing, fulfill the rest.

(Walk through the gospel)

3.) Faith Causes Us To Live An Obedient Life:

New Living Translation Chapter 3

Well then, if we emphasize faith, does this mean that we can forget about the law? Of course not! In fact, only when we have faith do we truly fulfill the law.

Too often, people will swing a pendulum from one extreme to another. In this case, some people believe and some preachers preach that since we are in the New Testament era, the Old Testament doesn’t apply and neither does the law. Brothers and sisters, this contradicts what the Lord Jesus Christ says.

New Living Translation Chapter 5

“Don’t misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to accomplish their purpose. 18 I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not even the smallest detail of God’s law will disappear until its purpose is achieved. 19 So if you ignore the least commandment and teach others to do the same, you will be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven. But anyone who obeys God’s laws and teaches them will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven.

20 “But I warn you—unless your righteousness is better than the righteousness of the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees, you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven!

Faithlife Study Bible Chapter 3

Paul’s hypothetical conversation partner raises a concern about justification apart from the law. Paul does not mean that Jews should dismiss the law completely; rather, they should not consider it the means to a right relationship with God. The law remains useful for moral instruction; it also details God’s promises and His purposes in the world.

we uphold the law In 7:12, Paul affirms that the law is holy and good. However, the law only identifies sin and testifies that humanity is under the power of sin; it does not help overcome sin. Nevertheless, Paul specifies that the law is not to blame; indwelling sin is the real problem (7:14–17).

Mike Kubus Version: The law is a mirror that convicts our hearts, not a check list to boast in our religious works.

Our faith should cause to want to live a life pleasing to God.

(The events surrounding Abraham)

Conclusion: Saving faith by W.T. Aitken

I believe in a physician when I put my case into that physician’s hands, and trust him to cure me. I believe in a lawyer when I leave my case in his hands, and trust him to plead for me. I believe in a banker when I put money into his hands, and allow him to keep it on my behalf.

I believe in my Saviour when I take Him to be my Saviour, when I put my helpless case into His hands, and trust Him to do what I cannot do for myself—save me from my sin. Have you done so?

You believe there is such a person as Jesus, and that He is the sinner’s Saviour. You do well; but that is only a partial and incomplete faith. To believe that a certain doctor exists and has a large practice is not to believe personally in that doctor. True faith contains a moral as well as an intellectual element, and when the former is wanting the latter can avail but little. Do you repose your moral confidence in Him, as being to you the Saviour that you need, as one whose character and office are congruous to the wants of your nature?

You are a sinner, He represents Himself as Saviour. You are a lost one, He has died to find you. You are dead, He presents Himself as the Resurrection and the Life. The point is: Do you take Him by faith to be what He reveals Himself to be? That is believing on Him. If you can say in your heart, “Yes, I believe in Him,” then the Holy Spirit of God can no longer convict you of sin. All your sins were laid on the Lamb of God, who bore the sin of the world. There is no longer a case against you; the summons is dismissed. There is no condemnation; you are pronounced acquitted and accepted in the beloved.

(Altar Call and Prayer)