Romans 3:27-28 (The good news)

Romans 3:27-28 Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith. 28For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.

At the Neshoba County Fair, boasting is the order of the day when politicians begin justifying why they should be elected to the various state offices. During the campaigning period, candidates offer their qualifications of experience, education, honesty, etc. as the reasons they should be judged worthy to hold the office that they seek. On Election Day candidates are judged by the voters as to their fitness to hold office. The winners rejoice, have victory parties, and boast even more of having gotten their message out. This strategy of boasting is also used in many other endeavors of American life as people strive to succeed and get ahead. Many are honest about their qualifications, abilities, and the products they sell which is good and the way a perfect temporal world should operate.

But, Paul emphatically explains in this passage that boasting is excluded in spiritual matters concerning salvation. Works of the law or one’s deeds of service do not count toward justification. Man is justified (saved) by faith apart from works. Faith plus works, faith plus baptism, or faith plus anything does not work together to save sinners. Sinners are saved by faith alone, and even that faith is a gift of God (Eph. 2:8). If sinners contributed anything to their salvation, then boasting would be possible. However, sinners do not provide anything and God provides everything in salvation, which excludes boasting.

Praise God that He saves sinners completely.