EXPLORE THE TEXT
We can never be “good enough” to make ourselves right with God.
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.
Finding Hope.
Since none of us can stand perfect before God, we can only find hope through faith in Jesus Christ.
God is impartial in judgment and in justification.
For Him, the issue is faith.
Just as God loves all people in the same way,
He will justify everyone in the same way.
His gift of forgiveness is offered to anyone who places their faith in Jesus.
Jews set themselves apart by being “circumcised.”
Accordingly, they referred to Gentiles as “uncircumcised.”
Such distinctions did not matter to the one God
who has provided one way of salvation for all. (PSG, p. 33)
Compare Matthew 5:17 and Romans 3:31.
Listen for the role of the law in the life of a believer.
Matthew 5:17
17 "Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets;
I did not come to abolish but to fulfill.
Romans 3:31
31 Do we then nullify the Law through faith? May it never be!
On the contrary, we establish the Law.
Paul did not disregard the law,
but he did affirm that it fails to provide what is necessary for salvation.
The Jews considered themselves children of Abraham.
As he continued building his case, Paul used Abraham
as a prime example of one who was justified by faith, not works.