“Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith. For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law. Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, since God is one—who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith. Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means!
Romans 3:27-4:2
On the contrary, we uphold the law. What, then, shall we say was gained by Abraham, our forefather, according to the flesh? If works justified Abraham, he has something to boast about, but not before God.”
Have you ever noticed that people like to talk about themselves and their accomplishments? Boasting is when someone is excessively proud and self-satisfied and talks about their achievements, possessions, or abilities. Paul addresses this issue with his Jewish audience. They were proud that God had entrusted them with His Laws.
Paul had just told them that God was righteous in establishing a new covenant that included the Gentiles. One of the main issues that the Jews disagreed with him was that he held to the belief that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law. Paul believed God’s acceptance doesn’t come through obedience to the law, but through faith in Jesus and the work He accomplished on the cross.
Paul explains that faith does not do away with the Law but fulfills it. Abraham is his example of this truth. Before the Law, God accepted Abraham, the father of Judaism, because of his faith and trust in God. Paul teaches the upholding of the Law through confession of guilt. Christ, on the sinner’s behalf, upheld the Law by enduring its penalty, which is death. But we, because of Christ’s propitiatory work, accomplish the upholding or fulfilling of the Law through love.
Galatians 5:14, “For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
The primary point of this portion of Scripture is that when it comes to our salvation, all the work and credit goes to God, not us. It’s practically impossible to love others as we do ourselves when our focus in life is only on us, and therefore we boast about ourselves, leaving no room for the concern of others.
Our life’s application concerning upholding or fulfilling the Law today would look like Jesus’ daily lifestyle.
Galatians 6:2 “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”