The Law of Faith – Part 1

Romans 3:27-31

Preached January 25, 2009, Grace Family Church of Americus

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So we then come to this question in the text….what does the text mean when it says "by what kind of law"? This word law means here a "principle". There are two possible principles here….the principle of works, and the principle of faith. Now, we will not have time to enter into this today, for there is much richness here. But suffice it to say today that God has ordained that what is required of us is absolute perfection in works. If a man can keep the whole Law, at least in theory, that man will be saved. He has commanded that if we do these things….if we keep the Law, doing good works, we shall live. The apostle asks the question….can this principle of Lawkeeping and good-works doing exclude boasting? No. The Law was not meant to save….although God in His word acknowledges that it is possible in theory to do so. The Law was meant to point us to Christ, to chase us to the foot of the Cross, and no further! It was made to stop the mouth of a sinner, and set aside any possibility of boasting. The principle of lawkeeping….good works…cannot permit boasting, because it has been established that not only was the Law never intended as a means of salvation, but also that it has been proven impossible for anyone to keep it. The Law condemns. The Law brings death. It is a high gate which prohibits the entrance of any who boast in their ability to keep it, to do good works.

Hear the words of Spurgeon…. "THE VERY GATE WHICH SHUTS OUT BOASTING, SHUTS IN HOPE AND JOY FOR YOU"

The principle of works-rejection is a glorious one indeed. It sets the field as level. There is no advantage for anyone. You may feel like you are so wicked today that you have no chance to enter heaven, but you are no different in the sight of God than that man who spends his days on his face in prayer. You may feel like your thought life is too sinful for you to be considered, but know this….that your thoughts will not be weighed in any balance against the thoughts of someone as holy as Jonathon Edwards. You may look at your family background, and say that you come from a father who was ungodly and a mother who was a tramp, but the man whose parents have the front pews at the church has no more right to Christ than do you.

God is no respecter of persons. His grace has been extended to the worst of sinners, and to the holiest of saints. It has taken hold of the adulterer and changed him into a man whose life is given to Christ and family, and it has taken hold of the preacher who saw his need of salvation in the Scripture after years of serving the church. You stand today on the level ground of the Cross, friends.