ROMANS ROAD
to RIGHTEOUSNESS |
Romans
1:18-3:20
|
Romans
3:21-5:21 |
Romans
6:1-8:39 |
Romans
9:1-11:36 |
Romans
12:1-16:27 |
|
SIN
|
SALVATION
|
SANCTIFICATION |
SOVEREIGNTY |
SERVICE |
NEED
FOR
SALVATION |
WAY
OF
SALVATION |
LIFE
OF
SALVATION |
SCOPE
OF
SALVATION |
SERVICE
OF
SALVATION |
God's Holiness
In
Condemning
Sin |
God's Grace
In
Justifying
Sinners |
God's Power
In
Sanctifying
Believers |
God's Sovereignty
In
Saving
Jew and Gentile |
Gods Glory
The
Object of
Service |
Deadliness
of Sin |
Design
of Grace |
Demonstration of
Salvation |
|
Power Given
|
Promises Fulfilled |
Paths Pursued |
Righteousness
Needed |
Righteousness
Credited |
Righteousness
Demonstrated |
Righteousness
Restored to Israel |
Righteousness
Applied |
God's Righteousness
IN LAW |
God's Righteousness
IMPUTED |
God's Righteousness
OBEYED |
God's Righteousness
IN ELECTION |
God's Righteousness
DISPLAYED |
|
Slaves to Sin |
Slaves to God |
Slaves Serving God |
|
Doctrine |
Duty |
|
Life by Faith |
Service by Faith |
|
Modified from Irving
L. Jensen's excellent work "Jensen's
Survey of the NT" |
WHERE THEN IS BOASTING: Pou oun e kauchesis:
(Ro 3:19; 2:17,23; 4:2; Ezek
16:62,63; 36:31,32; Zeph 3:11; Lk 18:9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14; 1Co 1:29,
30, 31; 4:7; Ep 2:8, 9, 10)
Spurgeon comments...
Boasting is sure to be
somewhere handy, ready to creep
in if it can, for we are all prone to it; it is the common sin of our
race: “Where is boasting then?”
Where is it? It is to be found
in a great many people. It is common enough; but where ought it to be?
Where does it get a footing? It is shut out/ There is no room for
boasting in the heart that receives Christ. If a man were saved by
works, he would have whereof to glory; boasting would not be shut out.
But as salvation is all of grace, through faith in Christ, boasting is
barred out in the dark, and faith gratefully ascribes all praise to God.
Faith’s empty hand receives the free gift of grace, and that very fact
excludes all boasting.
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.
Is he the God of the Jews only? Is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of
the Gentiles, also: seeing it is one God, which shall justify the
circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith. Do we then make
void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.
Whether Jews or Gentiles, there was no salvation for them by the works
of the law; the only way in which the circumcised or the uncircumcised
could be justified was by faith. This principle does not make void God’s
law; on the contrary, it establishes it, and sets it on the only right
and solid foundation. The gospel of the grace of God is the best
vindication of his law.
Writing to the Corinthians Paul
asks...
who regards you as
superior? And what do you
have that you did not receive? But if you did receive it, why do you
boast as if you had not received it? (1Cor 4:7)
just as it is written (in Jer
9:23, 24) "LET HIM WHO BOASTS, BOAST IN THE LORD." (1Cor
1:31)
Boasting (2746)
(kauchesis) refers to the act of boasting about something.
It expresses the idea of self-congratulation with or without
sufficient reason.
To boast means to speak of or assert with excessive pride, to express
pride in oneself or one’s accomplishments and often suggests ostentation
or even exaggeration. In the present context kauchesis denotes
the assertion of a claim upon God on the ground of one’s works.
Who does Paul have in mind? First,
note that the definite article ("the") marks this boasting as something
which is specific and presumably well known. With this in mind, it seems
clear that Paul has in mind the religious position and opposition of the Jews
(and by way application the mindset of any "religious" person).
In Ephesians Paul has a
parallel statement writing that...
by grace you have been saved
through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as
a result of works, that no one should boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9)
Wiersbe explains that...
If salvation is through the Law,
then men can boast; but the principle of faith makes it impossible for
men to boast. The swimmer, when he is saved from drowning, does not brag
because he trusted the lifeguard. What else could he do? When a
believing sinner is justified by faith, he cannot boast of his faith,
but he can boast in a wonderful Saviour. (Wiersbe,
W: Bible Exposition Commentary. 1989. Victor)
Newell notes...
As one has quaintly said, "The
Feast of Mercy was on, and the damsel Grace was at the door, admitting
everyone who came on the ground of mercy alone. Old Mr. Boasting, in a
high hat and fine suit, presented himself. 'Oh, 'said Grace, as she
quickly shut the door in his face, 'There is no room for you here! The
people here are feasting on the free gifts of God.' So Mr. Boasting was
shut out!" (Romans: Verse by
Verse)
Paul immediately answers his
rhetorical question about boasting...
IT IS EXCLUDED: exekleisthe
(3SAPI):
Excluded (1576)
(ekkleio
from ek = out + kleío
= to shut) means literally to shut out. For example in secular Greek we
find the following uses -- "be excluded from one’s home city" or "be
shut outside the door of the tower". Ekkleio means to eliminate,
to not allow, to exclude from a thing. Ekkleio is used here figuratively to describe making something
impossible.
Boasting in works as a means of
justification is completely shut out or banned. There is no room for
man’s boasting in God's plan of salvation. If God is saving by faith in
Christ and not by our merit or our works, then what can we boast in? The
aorist tense
indicates the completeness of the act -- the exclusion referred to has
been accomplished once for all.
The Amplified Version puts it plainly
that boasting is "banished,
ruled out entirely". Man has no "bragging rights" in this
area!
The only other use of ekkleio is by Paul
to describe a withdrawal of fellowship or association...
They (false teachers/Judaizers eagerly seek you, not
commendably, but they wish to shut you out, (they desired to
exclude the Galatian Gentiles from God's gracious salvation) in order that you may
seek them. (Galatians 4:17)
Vincent writes that this is...
A peculiarly vivid use of the
aorist tense.
It was excluded by the coming in of the revelation of
righteousness by faith.
Paul's point is that there is absolutely no
room in one’s salvation for boasting since salvation is, from beginning
to end, a work of God on behalf of totally depraved and helpless people.
Do you attempt to bargain with God, making promises in an attempt to
manipulate him? Do you secretly keep track of your good works, expecting
that God will feel obliged to reward you in some manner? Have you lapsed
into thinking God owes you health, prosperity, and happiness? Be
careful, lest the only thing you really deserve is rebuke.
Godet writes that...
That glory (boasting) which man
derives from his self-righteousness, and which the law had already
foreclosed, has been finally excluded. And by what means? By a rule of
works? Certainly not, for such a means would rather have promoted it,
but by that of faith (Ro 3:26.) The
apostle thus reaches the
striking result that the rule of works would contradict the law, and
that the rule of faith is that which harmonizes with it.
Calvin writes that...
“Paul is not here disputing merely
concerning ceremonies, or any external works, but comprehends all works
of every kind and degree. Boasting is excluded without all doubt, since
we can produce nothing of our own that merits the approbation or
commendation of God. And here he is not speaking of limitation or
diminution of merit, since he does not allow the least particle of it.
Thus, if boasting of works be removed by faith, so that it takes away
from man all praise, while all power and glory are ascribed to God, it
follows that no works whatever contribute to the attainment of
righteousness.” (Romans 3: Commentary)
Kent Hughes writes that in
this verse Paul presents
a call for humility, and humility
paves the way for the exhilarating, infinite grace of God to deluge our
bankrupt human hearts and bring us life. This is where all who are
without Christ must begin. They must put down their pride and boasting
and come with empty hands that they might receive this radical, true
righteousness. (Hughes,
R. K. Romans: Righteousness from heaven. Preaching the Word. Wheaton,
Ill.: Crossway Books)
Augustus Toplady phrases it
this way in his famous hymn
Rock of Ages...
Not the labor of my
hands
Can fulfill Thy law’s demands;
Could my zeal no respite know,
Could my tears forever flow,
All for sin could not atone;
Thou must save, and Thou alone.
Nothing in my hand I bring,
Simply to the cross I cling;
Naked, come to Thee for dress;
Helpless look to Thee for grace;
Foul, I to the fountain fly;
Wash me, Savior, or I die.
William Newell writes
that...
"In view of this new
gospel-revelation of the finished work of Christ, who did the whole work
for us on Calvary, and that by God's appointment, everything is seen to
be of God, and not at all of man. Therefore, even the Jews, to whom the
Law had been given, had their mouths completely stopped, "because there
was no work done, " and no ground for boasting!
(Romans: Verse by
Verse)
As one has quaintly said
"The Feast of Mercy was on, and the
damsel Grace was at the door, admitting everyone who came on the ground
of mercy alone. Old Mr. Boasting, in a high hat and fine suit, presented
himself. 'Oh, 'said Grace, as she quickly shut the door in his face,
'There is no room for you here! The people here are feasting on the free
gifts of God.' So Mr. Boasting was shut out!" (from William Newell.
Romans Verse by Verse).
BY WHAT KIND OF LAW OF WORKS?
NO, BUT BY A LAW OF FAITH: dia poiou nomou ton ergon; ouchi, alla dia nomou
pisteos: (Ro
9:11,32; 10:5; 11:6; Ga 2:16) (Ro 7:21,23,25; 8:2; Mk 16:16; Jn 3:36; Ga
3:22; 1Jn 5:11,12)
Paul is asking rhetorically on
what basis has boasting been banished? Is it on the basis of works? No
way. The more we think about those things we feel we have merited or
earned, the prouder we become, not the more humble!
Spurgeon writes that...
whenever we think that we have been
performing any good works, we begin to boast at once.
Law (3551) (nomos) is etymologically
something parceled out, allotted, what one has in use and possession;
hence, usage, custom. "Law" is used in
this context not as a reference to the Mosaic law but in the sense of a
principle.
Godet explains "law"
in this context writing...
In these two questions the term
law is taken in a general sense. This word is often used by Paul to
denote a mode of action which is imposed on the individual, a rule to
which he is subject, a principle which determines his conduct. Sometimes
when thus understood it is taken in a good sense; for example, Ro 8:2:
“the law of the spirit of life which is in Jesus Christ;”
again it is used in a bad sense; so Ro 7:23: “the law which is in
my members;” or, again, it is applied in both ways, good and bad at
once; comp. Ro 7:21. As Baur well says, the word law denotes in general
“a formula which serves to regulate the relation between God and man.”
And so the
Amplified Version translates this
question as
On what principle? [On the principle]
of doing good deeds? No, but on the principle of faith.
Works (2041) (ergon)
means a deed or action in contrast to inactivity. It speaks of toil or
effort in which one exerts strength or faculties to do or perform
something. Works are the result of and never the means of salvation.
Faith
(4102)
(pistis)
(Click
more detailed
study of
pistis)
is synonymous with trust or belief and is the conviction of the truth of
anything. In Scripture pistis usually speaks of belief
respecting man's relationship to God and divine things, generally with
the included idea of trust and holy fervor born of faith and joined with
it.
Law of
faith is another way of saying the principle of faith. In other words, God has not put
the human race on a merit system based on keeping or not keeping the law, but on a faith system so that the
basis of justification is simply believing what He has done for
undeserving (except for hell!) sinners.
This mercy filled, grace laden truth completely shuts the door on human boasting
in regard to our humanity, our goodness, our ability to love God, etc
(cp Jer 9:23,2 4).
The appropriate attitude of one
who believes is shown by the humble tax-gatherer in the Temple who
was even unwilling to lift up his
eyes to heaven, but was
beating his breast, saying, ‘God be merciful (hilaskomai = make
reconciliation for, be propitious, be satisfied, be gracious, be
favorably inclined - see study of related word
hilasterion) to me, the sinner!’ (Lk 18:13).
John MacArthur points out
that...
The greatest lie in the world, and
the lie common to all false religions and cults, is that, by certain
works of their own doing, men are able to make themselves acceptable to
God. The greatest error in that belief is its sheer impossibility. But
the greatest evil of that belief is that it robs God of His glory. (MacArthur,
J: Romans 1-8. Chicago: Moody Press)
William Newell writes
that...
"Law" in this instance is rule or
plan. This "law, " or principle, of faith, applies not only to our
justification, but to every aspect of the believer's life thereafter,
-"building up yourselves on your most holy faith." (Jude 1:20,
21) "That life which I
now live in the flesh I live in faith, the faith which is in the Son of
God." (Gal 2:20-note;
) (Romans:
Verse by Verse)
In other words, if boasting is
going to be excluded from justification, then justification has to be
not only by faith, but also apart from works of Law. If you try
to mix works with faith as a means of
justification, you undermine God's purpose to exclude all boasting.
Stated another way, if salvation were by works,
that would allow room for all kinds of self-congratulation. But when
salvation is on the principle of faith, there is no room whatsoever for boasting.
The justified person rightly says, “I did all the sinning and Jesus did all the
saving.” True faith disavows any possibility of self-help,
self-improvement, self-salvation, looking only to Christ as Savior (cp
Isa 45:22 [KJV has "Look unto Me and be ye saved"], Isa 45:23, 24, 51:1,
2).
