Learn Why It’s Vital to Put Your Faith in Christ and Not in the Law: Romans 3:27-28
Romans 3:27-28 in Context
Where, then, is there room for boasting? Do our works bring God’s acceptance? Not at all! It was not our works of keeping the law but our faith in his finished work that makes us right with God. So our conclusion is this: God’s wonderful declaration that we are righteous in his eyes can only come when we put our faith in Christ, and not in keeping the law.
Romans 3:27-28
I’m sure many of us have heard the phrase “justification by faith” before. It’s a phrase found in the Bible, specifically in the book of Romans. In Romans 3:27-28, Paul writes: “Where then is boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith. For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the law.”
But what does this phrase mean, and why is it essential to put our faith in Christ and not in keeping the law? To understand it, we must first look at the context of this passage.
In the book of Romans, Paul is writing to the Roman church about the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ. He is trying to explain to the church that salvation is not found in obeying the law. Instead, it is found in the grace of God, which is received through faith in Jesus Christ.
Paul is also addressing an issue that was a common challenge for the early church: the tendency for some believers to rely on their own works for salvation rather than trusting in the grace of God. In other words, they were relying on their own efforts to earn favor with God rather than trusting in the grace of God through faith in Jesus.
What Does Romans 3:27-28 Mean?
Now that we have looked at the context of Romans 3:27-28 let’s take a closer look at the passage itself. In this passage, Paul is emphasizing the importance of faith in Jesus over the law. He is saying that it is impossible to be justified by the works of the law. Instead, it is possible to be justified by faith apart from the works of the law.
At first glance, it might seem like Paul is saying that we can make it to heaven without doing anything at all – that we don’t need to obey the law. But that’s not what he is saying. Instead, he is saying that our justification does not come from following the law, but rather, it comes from our faith in Jesus.
The Role of the Law
So what is the role of the law in all this? The law was given to us as a way to show us our need for a Savior. The law is a reflection of God’s perfect standard of righteousness, and no one can meet that standard on their own. We have all broken the law and are guilty before God. The law reveals our sins and points us to our need for a Savior.
The law also serves as a guide for our lives. As believers in Jesus, we are no longer under the law, but we still need to obey it in order to live a holy and pleasing life to God. As Paul says in Romans 7:12, “So then, we have to conclude that the problem is not with the law itself, for the law is holy and its commandments are correct and for our good.”
The Role of Faith
Now that we understand the role of the law let’s talk about the role of faith. Faith means trusting God instead of trusting in our own efforts. We put our trust in God when we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord. When we do this, we receive the gift of salvation through his death and resurrection.
The Bible tells us that faith is a gift from God. Ephesians 2:8-9 says, “For it was only through this wonderful grace that we believed in him. Nothing we did could ever earn this salvation, for it was the gracious gift from God that brought us to Christ! So no one will ever be able to boast, for salvation is never a reward for good works or human striving.” We can’t earn our salvation, but we can receive it as a free gift through faith in Jesus.
What It Means to Have Faith
So what does it mean to have faith? The Bible tells us that faith is more than just believing in something. It is a trust that God will do what he has promised. Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now faith brings our hopes into reality and becomes the foundation needed to acquire the things we long for. It is all the evidence required to prove what is still unseen.”
Faith means trusting in God’s promises, even when we cannot see them. It means relying on God’s Word, even when circumstances don’t make sense. It means believing that God will fulfill his promises, even when it seems impossible.
Why Should We Put Our Faith in Jesus and Not in Keeping the Law?
Now that we understand the role of the law and the role of faith, we must ask ourselves why it is essential to put our faith in Jesus and not in keeping the law. The answer is simple: Only Jesus can save us.
The law is a reflection of God’s perfect standard of righteousness, but no one can meet that standard on their own. We have all broken the law and are guilty before God. The law reveals our sins and points us to our need for a Savior.
Jesus is the only one who can save us from our sins. He lived a perfect life, died on the cross, and rose again. He took the punishment for our sins and offered us the free gift of salvation.
Benefits of Putting Our Faith in Christ
When we put our faith in Jesus, we receive the gift of salvation. We accept the forgiveness of our sins and the assurance of eternal life. We also welcome the Holy Spirit, which gives us strength, peace, and joy.
When we put our faith in Jesus, we are also given the assurance that God will work all things together for our good. We can trust that God is in control and will never leave or forsake us.
How to Put Our Faith in Christ
Now that we understand why it is essential to put our faith in Jesus and not in keeping the law let’s talk about how to put our faith in him.
The most crucial step is to confess that Jesus is Lord. This means that you acknowledge that he is the only one who can save you and that you are willing to turn away from your sin and follow him.
The next step is to repent of your sins. This means that you turn away from them and turn to God and ask for his forgiveness.
The final step is to believe and accept the gift of salvation. This means that you believe that Jesus died on the cross for your sins and that you are willing to accept the free gift of salvation that he offers.
Why is it Important to Put Faith in Christ and Not the Law?
We’ve talked about why it is essential to put our faith in Jesus and not in keeping the law. We must understand that the law is not able to save us – only Jesus can save us. We must also understand that salvation is a free gift only through faith in Jesus.
It is essential to put our faith in Jesus, not the law because the law cannot save us. The law can only show us our need for a Savior. We must turn away from our sins and put our faith in Jesus, who alone can save us.
Takeaway – How Can We Apply Romans 3:27-28 to Our Lives?
In conclusion, Romans 3:27-28 teaches us that putting our faith in Jesus is essential, not in keeping the law. We must understand that the law cannot save us, but Jesus can. We must also understand that salvation is a free gift only through faith in Jesus.
Our takeaway from this passage is to put our faith in Jesus and not in our own efforts. We must trust in his promises and rely on his Word. We must believe that he is the only one who can save us.
We must also strive to live a life that is pleasing to God. We must obey his commands and live a life of faith, trusting in him and relying on his grace. By doing this, we can be assured of hope and a future in Jesus Christ.
Putting our faith in Christ rather than keeping the law is essential. We must remember that salvation is a free gift that can only be received through faith in Jesus. We must trust in his promises, rely on his Word, and strive to live a life that is pleasing to God.
