0373. Righteousness by Law, Gives Man Whereof to Boast

Righteousness by Law, Gives Man Whereof to Boast

"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast" (Eph_2:8-9).

1. How true it is that if we are saved by "being good," and "doing good," and by "paying our debts," and, by "doing to others, as we would be done by," that we are robbing God of the glories of His grace and we have whereof to glory in ourselves.

Around the throne of God they acclaim, "Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and power and might be unto our God forever and ever." Those who are saved by works, would stop the Heavenly chorus and change their song. They would want the blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and power and might ascribed to themselves.

2. In Rom_4:2 we read: "For if Abraham were justified by works he hath whereof to glory." That is, his justification would be a matter of boasting. But, when we come to salvation through the Cross, apart from the Law, we sing: "Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what Law? Of works? Nay; but by the law of faith."

We readily grant that there is a place for works, and for rewards, but these both lie beyond the realm of salvation. We can do nothing to become a Christian, but, when we are saved, we should do everything that becomes a Christian.

3. John saw a great multitude from every kindred, tribe and nation; they stood before the throne of God. And why were they there? The answer is simple: "They washed their robes and made them white in the Blood of the Lamb, THEREFORE do they stand before the throne of God." There is no boasting in all of this–"for by grace are ye saved."

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR