Scripture to Read: Romans 3:27
As we ended the devotions last week, we saw how God demonstrated His righteousness through Christ. Therefore, God made Christ our “Justifier,” which means that Christ is the only one who could and still can make us and everyone else right before God the Father by thoroughly cleansing us of all our sins (Colossians 1:13–14, Colossians 2:13–14). So, God had Paul ask this in Romans 3:27, “Where then is boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? Of works?” God had Paul ask these questions because the Jews of Paul's day boasted that since they were of the line of Abraham, they automatically were part of God's family. Likewise, many people today boast about “praying a prayer” and getting baptized. But no one has anything to brag about except our Lord Jesus Christ and His death, burial, and resurrection from the dead. God had Paul say it this way in Galatians 6:14, “But may it never be that I would boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.” God’s Word has cross-references that help us see how all of God’s Word beautifully ties together. So, God had Paul respond to the questions in Romans 3:27 by writing this answer, “No, but by a law of faith.” So, God has not given us His favor, grace, mercy, kindness, or forgiveness based on anything we have done. But God has given us all these things because we have placed our faith in Christ as Lord.
Challenge & Application
Why doesn’t anyone have anything to boast about when it comes to God’s favor being poured out on them?
How are you living your life differently, knowing that you have all of God’s favor and forgiveness because of Christ in you?
Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!