"Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law."
Romans 3:27-28
Romans, chapter three, is essential in understanding salvation. In chapters 1-2, Paul shows the condition of the lost man. In chapters 4-5, he teaches the concept of justification through faith. Chapter 3 brings all these chapters together. In the first twenty verses of chapter three, Paul argues that all men, Jew and Gentile alike are all under sin, but in the last verses of the chapter, he introduces justification by faith.
Since we are justified by faith, Paul asks the question, how about bragging about what I did to get saved?
“Where is boasting then?”
Since we are “justified by faith,” we can have no claim on righteousness in and of ourselves. It’s all about Jesus and His work on the cross for me. I am a sinner, saved by grace. I had nothing to do with this wonderful gift.
“It is excluded.”
Boasting, I cannot brag about what I did to have salvation. There is no pride here. My salvation is all about the work and grace of the Lord Jesus. If I’m going to brag, it must be bragging about what Jesus did.
“By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.”
How did my salvation come about, by the law of works? If I can work to keep the Law, will that save me?
“Therefore, by the deeds of the law, there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin” (Romans 3:20).
No, that is impossible, keeping the law cannot justify us. The law only points my sinful heart to the one who can help me. It is only by His grace we are saved!
“Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:24).
“And by him [Jesus Christ] all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses” (Acts 13:39).
“Therefore, we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.”
Paul is very clear on this. We are not justified by faith, plus “the deeds of the law.” No, all works are excluded, and faith is what God is looking for.
“Since all works of law are barred out, faith alone is left. Luther so translated, and since his time Sola Fide has become a slogan.” [1] (Lenski)
Our salvation is by “faith alone.”
Someone has said, “The only work we can do for salvation is to believe.”
[1] Lenski, as quoted by Guzik. David Guzik’s Enduring Word Commentary, the electronic version in eSword.