For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God.
Have you ever met someone who boasts a lot? Maybe you would call it bragging. These people love talking about their accomplishments (past, present, and future), the people they know or hung out with or met once, and they really like you to feel that they are a big deal.
Paul just completed convincing arguments for the equality of Jews and Gentiles in the eyes of God as equal sinners and equal recipients of the grace of God.* In this passage, Paul is leveraging the stories of Abraham and David.* Doing so appeals to and challenges his readers as Abraham was often used in apologetic stories of Paul’s day, and Abraham and Davids were highly revered. To say that they were not justified by works so as to be able to boast was a big deal! Truthfully, however, Abraham was uncircumcised at the time that he placed his trust in God and David was a sinner.* Both were recipients of God’s grace despite their lack of quality works. It was the grace of God that provided them right standing with God.*
These two are inspiring, and, yes, we would all agree that we should not boast especially understanding that not one of us is perfect. But, to whom would this bragging occur? As mentioned, you and I have met people who boast. It can be draining, and it can make others seek to shop elsewhere for friends.
The boasting that Paul is speaking of, however, is boasting to God.* No one can boast to God.* Even if David and Abraham had good works to share, they could not have positioned themselves to boast. How many of us do this though? How many of us say to God, “I did ______, so you owe me!” This is foolish and lacks perspective. All need God, even Father Abraham and King David. Can you imagine telling God about your accomplishments (past, present, and future), the people they know or hung out with or met once, and then hoping that God feels that you are a big deal? Silliness.
In the words of D. J. Moo:
The key point in what David says in Psalm 32 for Paul is that the people who are blessed are not those who have earned something from God; they are the ones who have received something from him. Their transgressions are forgiven, their sins “covered,” and God does not hold their sin against them. That these people continue to sin is obvious, but God does not hold their sin against them. He accepts them and blesses them.
Today, take a step.
Maybe today the one step God wants you to take is to stop boasting to others or to Him. Perhaps today God wants you to receive something from Him. Maybe God wants you to remember that He has given you much that you must receive.
Whatever the step, ask God to direct it. Take a moment to take that step. Invite Him to speak. He will.
Life is a long road. Walk it with Jesus. Take a water break… we all get thirsty.
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*Kruse, C. G. (2012). Paul’s Letter to the Romans (D. A. Carson, Ed.; p. 201–208). William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company; Apollos.
Osborne, G. R. (2004). Romans (pp. 104–107). InterVarsity Press; Moo, D. J. (2000). Romans (pp. 95).
Morris, L. (1988). The Epistle to the Romans (p. 195). W.B. Eerdmans; Inter-Varsity Press.
Moo, D. J. (2000). Romans (p. 146). Zondervan Publishing House.