Title: The implications of justification

Text:

Romans 3:27-31 [27]Where then is boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? Of works? No, but
by a law of faith. [28]For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law.
[29]Or is God the God of Jews only? Is He not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, [30]since
indeed God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith is one.
[31]Do we then nullify the Law through faith? May it never be! On the contrary, we establish the Law.

Intro:

In Romans 3:21-26, we noted that Paul gave us the basic instruction for justification – what it is, how
it was secured, and how it is received. We learned that justification is (1) apart from the Law, (2)
witnessed by the Old Testament, (3) provided by God, (4) received by faith, (5) needed by all, (6)
declared by God, (7) given as a gift, (8) purchased by Jesus. In this lesson, we will look at the
implications of justification as found in Romans 3:27-31..

As we come to verse 27, we come to the implications of justification.

By the way, implication is a logical consequence that is drawn from something else that is true.

In other words, based upon the truths stated in verses 21-26, what is stated in verses 27-31 must be
true. Here is the necessary outcome of what Paul has taught about justification. This is the
reasonable deduction of justification by faith alone. Paul gives three implications drawn from the
doctrine of justification by faith alone.

There are three implications, and each implication is framed with a question, answer, and
explanation.

The first implication is in verses 27-28, the second in verses 29-30, and the third in verse 31.

So, The first implication of justification by faith is that..

I. The exclusion of all boasting. V27-28 all boasting is excluded.

->Lest any believer assume a boastful attitude because he is justified and others are not – or that
there is something good about him that makes him better than someone else who is not justified, lest
we look down our long nose at others from a self-exalting position)

– Paul reminds us that this truth of justification by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone
ought to make him unspeakably humble.

->V (3:27a) Paul begins this section by asking a question, “Where then is boasting?” (verse 27).
Boasting is self-exaltation pridefully bragging on oneself, in self-merit, rather than in God and His
grace.

Illus: Boasting is like looking in the mirror and exalting in self. It is pride and self-boasting. Paul knew
that the heart of man is inherently boastful.

When Paul asks the question, “where then is boasting?,” it is in relationship to the free grace of God
in justification by faith alone. If this is true, then there should not be one drop of boasting in any
heart or that ever comes out of any mouth. If justification by faith alone is true, then we ought to be
walking in lowly humility. There should be no boasting, no self-elevation, or no self-exaltation.

The Answer (3:27a) Next, Paul gives the emphatic answer. He says, “It is excluded” (verse 27). All
boasting is excluded. “Excluded” (ekkleio) is a vivid, graphic word that means ‘to shut out something
or someone.’ It is the idea of slamming shut a door, preventing someone from gaining entrance into a
house.

When Paul says, “it is excluded,” he is closing the door on any boasting about our part in salvation.
There can be no pulling up ourselves above others. Boasting is completely excluded when salvation is
purely by grace.

Cf. zephanaiah 3:11. On that day you shall not be put to shame because of the deeds by which you
have rebelled against me; for then I will remove from your midst your proudly exultant ones, and
you shall no longer be haughty in my holy mountain.

This verse is part of a prophecy where God promises restoration and redemption for those who turn
back to Him. It speaks of a future time when God will remove the arrogant and bring about spiritual
renewal. Clear from this verse the arrogance of mans heart.

There is no room for any boasting by any believer because of this truth of justification by faith alone.
The Explanation (3:27b-28) Then, Paul gives the explanation for what he has just asserted. He says
“By what kind of law? Of works?” (verse 27).

->The “law” in verse 27 is not referring to the Mosaic Law, but rather to a governing principle. By
what operative rule does God justify us?

In other words, how is it that God has justified us? He then asks the next question, “Of works?” (verse
27). Was it by your human effort that God justified you? Paul comes down hard and responds, “No,
but by a law of faith” (verse 27).

->This “law of faith” is talking about the principle by which God operates in saving sinners. In this
instance, law again means a governing principle or the basis of His operation.

->God operates in salvation not by a works basis, but exclusively by His grace. If it is by faith alone,
which means that we had nothing to do with earning or meriting a position of acceptance with God.
It is all on the basis of Someone else’s works.

The apostle, of course, does not mean that Christianity does not produce good works, or that they
who are justified will not obey the Law, and be holy; but that no righteousness of their own will be
the ground of their justification.

->They are sinners; and as such can have no claim to he treated as righteous. God has devised a plan
by which, they may be pardoned and saved; and that is by faith alone.

->This is the grand uniqueness of the Christian religion.

->In verse 28 Paul will continue the explanation by saying, “For we maintain that a man is justified by
faith” (verse 28). Expound

The second implication of justification by faith

II. V.29-.The removal of all distinction. [29]Or is God the God of Jews only? Is He not the God of
Gentiles also? (Yes, of Gentiles also,)

->Question...is God, the God of the Jews? Ans.- The Jews supposed that he was the God of their
nation only, that they only were to be admitted to his favor.

->In these verses Paul showed that as all had alike sinned, Jews and Gentiles; and as the plan of
salvation by faith was adapted to sinners, without any special reference to Jews; so God could show
favors to all, and all might be admitted on the same terms to the benefits of the plan of salvation.

Jew and Gentile are one in Christ. At the cross, Jesus tore down the dividing wall between Jew and
Gentile (Ephesians 2:14-16). V14. For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and
broke down the barrier of the dividing wall.

This verse highlights the reconciling power of Jesus Christ, emphasizing that through his sacrifice, he
has bridged the gap between Jews and Gentiles, uniting them in peace.

There is now only one body of Christ. There is not a Jewish body of Christ and a Gentile body of
Christ. There is only one body of Christ, and it is comprised of those who are justified by faith alone in
Christ alone. There is no other way of salvation, and there is no division between those who come to
Christ.

Summary. Now we learned the first two implications of justifications..The exclusion of boasting and
the removal of all distinctions now..

Transition: The third implication of justification by faith is that the Law is established, found in verse
31.

III. The Establishment of the moral Law . Not rejecting it.

The Question (3:31a) The apostle asks, “Do we then nullify the Law through faith?” He states, “On the
contrary, we establish the Law”.

This means it is the total opposite of thinking of the NCT that justification nullifies the Law.
“Establish” (histemi) is a strong Greek word that means ‘to cause something or someone to stand.’

It was used in Acts 2 when the other 11 apostles put Peter forward to preach on the day of
Pentecost. They caused him to stand before the crowd. It also means ‘to make firm’ or ‘to cause a
thing to keep its place.’ Thus, Paul asserts that his teaching on justification does not nullify the Law,
but establishes it.

If we are justified apart from the Law, as Paul said in verse 21, is the Law now nullified? In other
words, he asks, “Is the Law of no effect? Is the Law of no good or purpose if we are justified apart
from the Law?”
Paul wants to head off this wrong conclusion before it can spread in the minds of those in Rome. He
again gives question, answer, and explanation.

The QUESTION (3:31b) Paul writes, “Do we then nullify the Law through faith?” (verse 31). “Nullify”
(katargeo) means ‘to make of no effect’ or ‘to cause to cease.’ Have we made the moral Law to be
cancelled and irrelevant if we are justified apart from the Law?

Note Paul’s answer, “May it never be!” (verse 31). This is stated in two words in the Greek, me
gnoito, which is the strongest, most emphatic negative that can be conveyed in the original language.
It means ‘absolutely not.’ It is not just “no,” but ‘a thousand times no.

The Explanation (v3:31c) Do we then nullify the Law through faith? May it never be! On the contrary,
we establish the Law

Justification does not nullify the proper use of the moral Law. Rather than giving us a full explanation,
Paul, in reality, provides us with more of a confirmation.

IV. The Applications

1. By way of application, this is a call for humility. Let us be reminded that “God is opposed to
the proud, but gives grace to the humble” (1 Peter 5:5). Do you want a greater grace as this
verse promises? God gives grace to only one person. He gives it to the humble. On the other
hand, God is opposed to the proud and resists him. God is opposed to the proud, but He gives
grace to the humble. Where then is boasting?
2. Love the law of God and not abolished it.
3. To those who are not yet united in Christ stop working in your own way for salvation but
rather to trust in the trust in the Lord and His way. Believe in the gospel.