Romans 3:27-31

Boasting is Excluded (vv. 27-28)

There is no room for boasting in the kingdom of God! -> not only is it forbidden, but it’s impossible

The Jews were hasty to boast because they possessed the law and performed some works of it (Rom. 2:17-20, 23)

Judgement based on works of the law does not hinge on effort or possession, but performance -> of which we all fall short

Boasting is excluded by the law -> not the law of works, but the law of faith

The mosaic law is a law of faith, and the first century Jews did not understand this!

It was through faith in what the law pointed to that saved and brought them to God, not the sacrifices themselves

This is the thing that differentiates the OT religious practices from pagan religions

Salvation has never been through the works of the law, but rather always by faith (v. 28, Deut. 10:12-22)

As it is today -> there is no boasting in salvation because salvation is a gift to be received, not a payment to be earned (Eph. 2:1-10)

The God of Jews and Gentiles (vv. 29-31)

God is the God of all the world, Jews and Gentiles alike

Not only are we alike in our sin and guilt before God, but we are also similar in the way we must approach God

The first century Jew thought performance of the law made them God’s favorite, but in reality the Jews were chosen to be a light for the gentiles (, ) Is. 42:649:6

God will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith

Any Jew who inherits eternal life will only be made right before God because of their faith in God’s grace (1 Sam. 15:20-23)

Any Gentile who inherits eternal life will only be made right before God because of their faith in God’s grace (Acts 15:1-21)

Any person who inherits eternal life will only be made right before God because of their faith in God’s grace (Rom. 10:9-13)

Faith does not nullify the law, but rather upholds it! -> the law and faith do not oppose one another, but rather confirm one another

The law of Moses does not contradict the law of faith -> the law of faith is the fulfillment of the law of Moses (Matt. 5:17-20; Rom. 8:4)