Open:
Think about how much of life you and I really control. Now think about the ways that control is limited, list them out.
Now think back to a time you’ve seen someone make great boasts about what they have done… An easy thing to think about is a sporting event or an athlete. How has their boasting worked out for them personally? How much control over their reason for boasting did they really have?
Terry said, “Boasting about observing the law is the equivalent of boasting about human accomplishment…all such boasting is nonsense in light of God’s grace (unmerited, freely given favor).” Why is this statement true?
Objective:
Our objective is to understand that humility and confidence are found in the Gospel and nowhere else. Everything else we look to for purpose and meaning will leave us with a feeling of arrogance and insecurity. The Gospel is the fixed point of reference for our lives…we don’t look to how we are currently “feeling and doing”…we look to what Jesus has done for us.
Read:
Romans 3:27-26
27 Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. On what principle? On that of observing the law? No, but on that of faith. 28 For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from observing the law. 29 Is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too, 30 since there is only one God, who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith. 31 Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Not at all! Rather, we uphold the law.
Study
Why does Paul say boasting is excluded?
Why is boasting something that believers struggle with more than non-believers?
What are the damaging effects of our boasting?
Justified is used in verse 28. In your own words, define justification?
What effect does justification by faith have on boasting? Why?
What do you take pride in?
Apply:
The truth for us is that the humility and confidence we need is found in the Gospel…nowhere else. We need to navigate life by a fixed point of reference and that reference is the Gospel.
What is one thing you could do today that would allow the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit to transform you over time into a person who is growing in humility and confidence in the power of the Gospel and not in your ability to make life happen on your own?