"Boasting Is Excluded"

Romans 3:27–31 CSB

27 Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By one of works? No, on the contrary, by a law of faith. 28 For we conclude that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law. 29 Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too, 30 since there is one God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith. 31 Do we then nullify the law through faith? Absolutely not! On the contrary, we uphold the law.

HOOK — "What Are You Boasting In?"

We live in a world that rewards pride:

resumés

social media

education

Which school?

Which degree?

“If I have this or that degree, I’m smarter than you…”

That is ABSOLUTELY FALSE.

spiritual performance.

Whether we admit it or not, most of us carry some internal scoreboard.

COMPARISON KILLS!!

“If you live for people’s acceptance, you will die by their rejection.” —Lecrae Moore

We have a core desire to want to prove ourselves:

to others

to God

We want EVERYONE to know what WE CAN DO!!

We believe that they need to know thorugh us showing them!

TRANSITION:

In today’s passage, Holy Spirit through Paul is starting us with a question that CONFRONTS US ALL:

“Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded.” — Romans 3:27a, CSB

In one sentence, God wipes out the pride that drives our performance and comparison.

BOOK

Let’s walk through the text:

“Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By one of works? No, on the contrary, by a law of faith.” — v. 27

Boasting is eliminated because faith is the new “law”:

not effort

not moral scorekeeping

Salvation doesn’t work like a paycheck…

We don’t earn more salvation by our “work ethic”.

“For we conclude that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.” — v. 28

This is Paul’s gospel summary:

justification comes by faith alone, NOT through performance.

Justification comes:

by Grace alone

through Faith Alone

in Christ alone

by His Word alone

To the Glory of God alone

“Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too, since there is one God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith.” — vv. 29–30

God is not tribal. There are no religious or cultural “VIPs.” Salvation by Grace through Faith makes access to God universal.

We have ACCESS to The Most High God, YHWH is OUR FATHER in Christ our Older Brother and Savior…

We can come before Him in His presence whenever we so desire, and SO WE SHOULD!!

Charles Hodge (a presbyterian theologian in the 1800s):

‘We Gentiles may now look up to heaven, and confidently say, “Thou art our Father, though Abraham be ignorant of us, and though Israel acknowledge us not.” 

“Do we then nullify the law through faith? Absolutely not! On the contrary, we uphold the law.” — v. 31

Faith doesn’t cancel God’s law—it confirms its purpose:

to point us to Jesus and shape how we live as His people.

Galatians 3:23–24 KJV 1900

23 But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. 24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

LOOK — What This Means for Us

We have nothing to brag about but Jesus.

There’s no spiritual résumé impressive enough.

No education high enough to impress

LISTEN, there is nothing particularly dignified about dirt…

WE ARE MADE OF DIRT.

That’s you. That’s me.

Our salvation is entirely God’s doing through Christ.

We are MADE FOR HIM.

“For you are saved by grace through faith… not from works, so that no one can boast.” — Ephesians 2:8–9, CSB

God does not owe saving grace to ANYBODY.

Exodus 33:19 CSB

19 He said, “I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim the name ‘the Lord’ before you. I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.”

It is absolutely AMAZING that He rescues ANYONE.

WE DO NOT DESERVE IT…

Our sin nature is in REBELLION to God and His commands of love.

Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength

Love your neighbor as yourself

The Ten Commandments

Faith brings us into a new identity, not performance.

Justification means “declared righteous.”

That’s a legal status

given instantly when we trust in Christ—not achieved slowly by doing good.

No amount of penance will gain the legal status of “PAID IN FULL”

ONLY the HOLY ONE HIMSELF can give us HOLINESS.

Hebrews 12:14 LEB

14 Pursue peace with everyone, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.

Faith in Jesus makes us One Family.

God doesn't play favorites.

The ground is level at the cross.

Whether you grew up in church or not, all come the same way—by grace through faith.

Paul didn’t come a different way.

Peter didn’t come a different way.

Moses didn’t come a different way.

EACH CAME to be BORN AGAIN by grace through faith…

Hebrews 11:1–2 CSB

1 Now faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen. 2 For by this our ancestors were approved.

Faith doesn't ignore the law—it fulfills it.

The law was never meant to save us, but to lead us to Christ and shape our lives once we’re saved.

Galatians 3:24 KJV 1900

24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

“The goal of our instruction is love that comes from a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith.” — 1 Timothy 1:5, CSB

TOOK — So What? What Do We Do With This?

Stop performing to earn God’s approval.

You don’t need to “try harder” to be loved by God.

You need to trust deeper in what Jesus has already done.

IF you are GENUINELY IN CHRIST and have been BORN AGAIN, you are ALREADY LOVED by God.

ALL of His love is “shed abroad in our hearts”

Romans 5:5 CSB

5 This hope will not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

Boast in Christ, not yourself.

Speak often and boldly of what God has done—not how you’ve measured up.

We have nothing to BRAG on, EXCEPT JESUS!

Welcome everyone by grace in the gospel.

Since faith in Jesus unites EVERY CULTURE…tear down any sense of superiority you may have over others…

Here’s a secret:

YOU AREN’T SPECIAL…

I hope and pray that THE OC continues to reflect the open arms of God to the lost, broken, and hurting, through the love shown in the gospel…

Live by faith in a way that honors the law.

Obedience is still vital—but it flows from relationship, not religious duty.

Live out the law of love through the Spirit.

Read your Bible = Listen to God

Pray = Talk to Jesus

Proclaim the Good News of what Jesus has done everywhere God sovereignly places you.

No matter what season of life.

Closing Challenge

Boasting is excluded. But worship is included.

Let’s lay down our pride

pick up our faith

follow Jesus with humble, confident joy.

Jeremiah 9:23–24 CSB

23 “ ‘This is what YHWH says: The wise person should not boast in his wisdom; the strong should not boast in his strength; the wealthy should not boast in his wealth. 24 But the one who boasts should boast in this: that he understands and knows me— that I am YHWH, showing faithful love, justice, and righteousness on the earth, for I delight in these things. This is YHWH’s declaration.

“Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” — 1 Corinthians 1:31, CSB

PRAYER